Optical, luminescent and laser properties of highly transparent ytterbium doped yttrium lanthanum oxide ceramics

• Transparent Yb3+:(LaxY1−x)2O3 ceramics were fabricated from laser synthesized powders.
• Luminescence of the ceramics is examined.
• Laser oscillation in the ceramics is demonstrated.

This paper describes the fabrication and investigation of highly transparent Yb-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide ceramics. For sintering of the ceramics we used a technology, which consists of several consecutive steps: (a) synthesis of weakly agglomerated nanopowder by laser ablation, (b) compacting of the green body with cold isostatic pressing (CIP), and (c) sintering in vacuum. After calcinations of the synthesized nanopowder at 1200 °C, a pure single-phase solid solution Yb3+:(LaxY1−x)2O3 was formed. The lanthanum ions proved to be a good aid to sinter yttria ceramics doped with Yb3+ at comparatively moderate temperatures of about 1650 °C. The ceramics have a relative density higher than 99.99% and grain sizes around 40 μm. The absorption coefficient of 3.2 mm thick Yb0.12La0.27Y1.61O3 ceramics is 0.01 cm−1 at 1150 nm. Laser oscillation at a wavelength of 1033 nm is demonstrated.