Yb:(YLa)₂O₃laser ceramics produced by microwave sintering

Abstract

The possibility of using microwave heating for sintering of optical oxide ceramics and the advantages of this method are considered. Sintering of Yb0.1:(YLa)1.9O3 ceramics by heating with 24-GHz radiation is studied. The compacts for sintering are prepared from nanosized powders obtained by high-temperature synthesis from acetate-nitrates of rare-earth metals. The effect of addition of lanthanum oxide and of the uniaxial pressing conditions on the microstructure and optical transmission of ceramics is studied. Lasing at a wavelength of 1030 nm with an efficiency of 7.5 % is achieved in ceramic samples of the (Yb0.05Y0.1La0.85)2O3 composition under pumping by a laser diode at a wavelength of 940 nm.