Induced emission cross section of a possible laser line in Nd:Y2O3 ceramics at 1.095μm

In this study, we measured the change of the optical transmittance for calcination temperatures, in steps of 10°, at two different sintering temperatures. It was found that the optical transmittance is highly dependent on the calcination temperature. The highest optical transmittance obtained was 70% for the transparent Y2O3 (yttria) ceramics produced without the use of additives and high injection presure in this study, higher than the highest reported value of 65%. Optical absorption and emission spectra of Nd:Y2O3 obtained from a low temperature synthesis process were measured. The energy level structure of Nd3+ in the Y2O3 ceramics was determined for a 1mol% Nd concentration. The induced emission cross section was calculated to be in the range of 3.2×10−19–1.1×10−17cm2 for the 1mol% Nd-doped Y2O3 ceramics. Furthermore, a laser line possibly has been identified in this study, in the Nd:Y2O3 ceramic at 1.095μm.