Effect of microstructural features on the laser efficiency of Nd{sup 3+}:Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12} ceramics
- Institute for Single Crystals of NAS of Ukraine (Ukraine)
- Key Laboratory of Transparent and Opto-functional Advanced Inorganic Materials, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050 (China)
- Specialized Enterprise 'Holography' Ltd, Kiev (Ukraine)
The optical properties and microstructure of transparent Nd{sup 3+}:Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12} ceramics synthesised by different reactive sintering routes are studied. It is found that the residual porosity of optical ceramics is directly related to the homogeneity of the microstructure of initial compacts, which can be estimated by the existence of particle agglomerates larger than 1 mm in initial nanopowders. A qualitative correlation is established between the residual porosity, the optical losses and the lasing slope efficiency of Nd{sup 3+}:Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12} ceramics. The maximum laser efficiency (η = 49%) was observed in the samples with the lowest porosity (2.3 × 10{sup -3} vol %). (lasers)
- OSTI ID:
- 22551182
- Journal Information:
- Quantum Electronics (Woodbury, N.Y.), Vol. 45, Issue 9; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-7818
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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