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Polycrystalline Yb3+–Er3+-co-doped YAG: Fabrication, TEM-EDX characterization, spectroscopic properties, and comparison with the single crystal

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2014

Jan Hostaša ,
Laura Esposito ,
Annie Malchère ,
Thierry Epicier ,
Angela Pirri ,
Matteo Vannini ,
Guido Toci ,
Enrico Cavalli ,
Akira Yoshikawa  and
Malgorzata Guzik
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Jan Hostaša*
Affiliation:
CNR ISTEC, National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, Faenza 48018, Italy; and Department of Glass and Ceramics, Institute of Chemical Technology, Prague, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic
Laura Esposito
Affiliation:
CNR ISTEC, National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Science and Technology for Ceramics, Faenza 48018, Italy
Annie Malchère
Affiliation:
University of Lyon, INSA of Lyon, MATEIS UMR CNRS 5510, Villeurbanne 69621, France
Thierry Epicier
Affiliation:
University of Lyon, INSA of Lyon, MATEIS UMR CNRS 5510, Villeurbanne 69621, France
Angela Pirri
Affiliation:
CNR IFAC, National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, FI 10 50019, Italy
Matteo Vannini
Affiliation:
CNR INO, National Research Council of Italy, National Institute of Optics, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 10 50019, Italy
Guido Toci
Affiliation:
CNR INO, National Research Council of Italy, National Institute of Optics, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 10 50019, Italy
Enrico Cavalli
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Parma, Parma (PR) 43121, Italy
Akira Yoshikawa
Affiliation:
Advanced Crystal Engineering, IMR, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8577, Japan
Malgorzata Guzik
Affiliation:
Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, Wrocław PL-50-383, Poland
Guillaume Alombert-Goget
Affiliation:
Institute of Light and Matter (ILM), UMR5306 CNRS-University Lyon1, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne 69622, France
Yannick Guyot
Affiliation:
Institute of Light and Matter (ILM), UMR5306 CNRS-University Lyon1, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne 69622, France
Georges Boulon
Affiliation:
Institute of Light and Matter (ILM), UMR5306 CNRS-University Lyon1, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne 69622, France
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG)-based ceramics represent a valuable alternative to single crystals as active media in laser devices for specific applications. In this connection, the 1.5–1.65 µm emission channel of Er3+-doped YAG is of particular importance for the realization of diode pumped solid state lasers operating in the so-called ‘eye-safe’ region. A well-known drawback of this material is related to its small absorption cross section in correspondence to the diode pumping radiation at 940–980 nm. However, its emission performance can be significantly improved through sensitization with Yb3+ ions that can efficiently absorb the excitation radiation and transfer it to the Er3+ ions. This work deals with the fabrication of polycrystalline YAG co-doped with Er3+ and Yb3+ ions from oxide powders via solid state sintering in high vacuum conditions and its microstructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy–energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy to determine the dopants distribution and to assess their influence on the sintering process and on the spectroscopic properties. For this purpose, the absorption and emission spectra of the prepared material have been measured and compared with those of a single crystal having the same composition, appositely prepared by the micro-pulling down method. Suitable calculations have been finally carried out to verify the effective perspectives of application of the investigated ceramics as active lasing medium.

Keywords

ceramicoptical propertiescrystal
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 29 , Issue 19: Focus Issue: Optical Ceramics Science , 14 October 2014 , pp. 2288 - 2296
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2014 

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References

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