Dependence of spectroscopic and thermal properties on concentration and temperature for Yb:Y2O3 transparent ceramics

High transparency ytterbium doping yttria (Yb:Y2O3) ceramics were fabricated by vacuum sintering. The influence of temperature and doping concentration on optical and thermal properties of Yb:Y2O3 ceramics were evaluated. The increased Yb doping concentration causes the red-shift of absorption edge. The intensities of absorption peaks increase linearly with Yb3+ ion concentration, and the absorption cross-section at ∼978 nm is calculated to be 1.15 × 10−20 cm2. When Yb3+ doping content is 5.0 at.%, the strongest peak centers at the wavelength of 1030 nm with the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 17 nm, and stimulated emission cross-section is measured to be 1.58 × 10−20 cm2. Both absorption coefficient and fluorescence lifetime increase with increasing Yb3+ concentration. The optimum doping concentration of Yb3+ ion in Y2O3 transparent ceramic is in the range of 5.0-7.0 at.%. For 5.0 at.% Yb:Y2O3 transparent ceramic, as temperature increases from 10 K to room temperature (RT), the fluorescence intensity decreases and the peaks are broaden.