Broadband near-infrared emission from transparent Ni2+-doped sodium aluminosilicate glass ceramics

Broadband neat-infrared emission from transparent Ni2+-doped sodium aluminosilicate glass-cermaics is observed. The broad emission is centered at 1290 nm and covers the whole telecommunication wavelength region (1100-1700 nm) with full width at half maximum of about 340 nm. The observed infrared emission could be attributed to the T-3(2)(F) -> (3)A(2)(F) transition of octahedral Ni2+ ions that occupy high-field sites in nanocrystals. The product of the lifetime and the stimulated emission cross section is 2.15 x 10(-24) cm(2)s. It is suggested that Ni2+-doped sodium aluminosilicate glass ceramics have potential applications in tunable broadband light sources and broadband amplifiers.

Effect of La2O3 on microstructure and transmittance of transparent alumina ceramics

Optically transparent alumina ceramics were fabricated by conventional process and sintered without pressure in H-2 atmosphere. The results indicate that relative densities of alumina specimens increase to theoretical densities (T. D.) with increasing content of La2O3. With increasing holding time during sintering, much less pores and larger grains were found in the sintered alumina samples. Higher transmittance was achieved in alumina codoped with MgO and La2O3 as compared with that doped with MgO only. The total-transmittance of alumina sample is up to 86% at a wavelength range of 300 - 800 nm.

Effect of La3+ on microwave dielectric properties of (Pb0.45Ca0.55) (Fe0.5Nb0.5)O-3 ceramics

In this work, microwave dielectric properties of A-site substitution by La3+ in (Pb0.45Ca0.55) (Fe0.5Nb0.5) 03 system were investigated. Microwave dielectric properties of A-site charge unbalance substitution of [(Pb0.45Ca0.55)(1-x) La-x] (Fe0.5Nb0.5)O-3(+) (P45CLFN) were improved because the solid solution of small amount of surplus La3+ with (Pb, Ca)(2+) could eliminate oxygen vacancies, and the formation of secondary phase (pyrochlore) was also caused by surplus La3+. The decreasing of dielectric constant with the increase of La3+ content is due to the formation of pyrochlore. The grain size is changed slightly and Q(f) values (7000 similar to 7300 GHz) are almost unchanged at x = 0.02 similar to 0.10, but the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (TCF) are increased and changed from negative to positive. TCF is zero at x 0.075 with Q(f) = 7267 GHz and K = 89. TCF of all specimens are within +/- 5 x 10(-6)degrees C-1.

Investigation of the spectroscopic properties of (Y0.92-xLa0.08Ndx)(2)O-3 transparent ceramics

The spectroscopic properties of (Y0.92-xLa0.08Ndx)(2)O-3 transparent ceramics were investigated. According to three intensity parameters (Omega(2),Omega(4),Omega(6)) fitted by the Judd-Ofelt theory, the spectroscopic quality parameter (X-Nd), branching ratio (beta(J,J')), and quantum efficiency (eta) of Nd3+ were determined. It was found that X-Nd of the host, owing to the additive La2O3, was decreased from 1.6 to 0.46; thus beta(J,11/2) was increased from 46% to 56.82%. A figure of merit of the specimens was discussed and compared with Nd:YAG transparent ceramic. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.

Spectral characterization of transparent (Nd0.01Y0.94La0.05)(2)O-3 laser ceramics

The spectrum properties of transparent (Nd0.01Y0.94La0.05)(2)O-3 ceramics were investigated. It was found that all absorption bands of (Nd0.01Y0.94La0.05)(2)O-3 ceramics are broadened, of which the full width at half maximum of the peak centered at 804 nm is 8 nm and its absorption cross section is 1.02x10(-20) cm(2). The emission cross section of (Nd0.01Y0.94La0.05)(2)O-3 ceramics located at 1078 nm is 5.71x10(-20) cm(2) and its fluorescent lifetime is 0.214 ms, which are similar to those of 1.0 at. %Nd:Y2O3 ceramics. These indicate that (Nd0.01Y0.94La0.05)(2)O-3 transparent ceramics has excellent spectroscopic properties.

Fabrication and spectral properties of Nd3+-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide transparent ceramics

Transparent 1 at% Nd3+:Y1.9La0.1O3 ceramics were fabricated with nanopowders prepared by carbonate coprecipitation method. The powder compacts were sintered in H-2 atmosphere at 1550 degrees C for 30 h. The Nd3+:Y1.9La0.1O3 ceramics display uniform grains of about 50 mu m and high transparency. The highest transmittance of the ceramics reaches 67%. The strongest absorption peak is in the wavelength of 820 nm with absorption cross section of 2.48 x 10(-20) cm(2). The absorption is still high at LD wavelength 806 nm with absorption cross section of 1.78 x 10(-20) cm(2) and broad full width at half maximum (FWHM) of about 6.3 nm. The strongest emission peak was centered at 1078 nm with large stimulated emission cross section of 9.63 x 10(-20) cm(2) and broad FWHM of about 7.8 nm. The broad absorption and emission bandwidth of Nd3+:y(1.9)La(0.1)O(3) transparent ceramics are favorable to achieve the miniaturized LD pumping apparatus and ultrashort modelocked pulse laser output, respectively. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and luminescence characterization of cerium doped Lu2O3-Y2O3-La2O3 solid solution transparent ceramics

Ce3+:( Lu0.7Y0.25La0.05)(2)O-3 transparent ceramics were fabricated with nanopowders and sintered in H-2 atmosphere. The spectral properties of Ce3+:( Lu0.7Y0.25La0.05)(2)O-3 transparent ceramics were investigated and the luminescence of Ce3+ in the solid solution of Lu2O3, Y2O3 and La2O3 has been found. The ceramics has high density of 8.10g/cm(3) and short fluorescence lifetimes of 7.15 ns and 26.92 ns. It is expected to be a good fast response high temperature inorganic scintillating materials. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.

Luminescence behavior of Yb(3+)heavy-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide transparent ceramics

Yb3+ heavy-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide transparent ceramics were fabricated and their spectroscopic properties were investigated. The absorption bands of (YbxY0.9-xLa0.1)(2)O-3 (x = 0.05-0.15) ceramics are broad at wavelength of 900-1000 nm. The absorption cross-sections centered at 974 nm and the emission cross-sections at 1031 nm of Yb3+ ion are 0.89-1.12 x 10(-20) cm(2) and 1.05 x 10(-20) cm(2) respectively. The up-conversion luminescence intensity of Yb3+-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide ceramics increased firstly, then decreased with the increase of Yb3+ ion content. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hot-pressed translucent aluminum oxynitride (AlON) ceramics

AlON with a composition of Al23O27N5 was prepared by hot pressing at temperatures lower than 1900°C. The microstructures and final properties, including both mechanical properties and optical properties, of the sintered specimens were studied. The results showed that sintering temperature had a great influence on the densification of specimens and could lead to very different properties, especially the optical transmittance and the maximum infrared transmission.