Influence of Yb3+ content on the optical and thermophysical properties of YSAG:Yb:Er solid solutions

Abstract

Using the method of non-reactive sintering of nanocrystalline powders, highly transparent samples of optical ceramics based on solid solutions of yttrium-scandium aluminum garnets containing 50 at.% scandium in the dodecahedral position and doped with erbium (1 at.%) and ytterbium (0–49 at.%) cations (YSAG:Yb:Er) were produced. The influence of Yb3+ concentration on the crystal lattice parameter, density, refractive index, stability of YSAG:Yb:Er solid solutions during high-temperature sintering, thermal conductivity, optical transmittance and absorption coefficients in the wavelength range from 200 to 1100 nm, as well as Stokes and anti-Stokes luminescence, was determined. The revealed patterns make it possible to fine-tune the physical and chemical characteristics of ceramics for the design of composite laser materials.