Synthesis and properties of Yb：Sc2O3 transparent ceramics

Yb：Sc2O3 transparent ceramics were fabricated by solid-state reaction and vacuum sintering method. CaO was added as sintering aids by a high energy ball milling. Transparent nearly-fully dense samples were obtained after 1840℃ sintefing. Using transmitted-light microscope we get the grain sizes are more than 100μm. Using spectrophotometer we get the absorption coefficient centered at 975 nm was 2.65 cm-1. The phosphorescence spectra showed that the line-widths （FWHM） at 975 and 1041 nm were about 4 and 10 nm and the lifetime of Yb ions in Sc2O3 transparent ceramics was about 883 μs. According to the absorption and fluorescence band centers of Yb：Sc2O3 transparent ceramics, the level scheme of Yb3＋ ions in Sc2O3 ceramics could be gotten.