In this work, transparent ceramics were manufactured from nanopowders synthesized by aqueous coprecipitation followed by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) to ensure rapid and full densification. The photoluminescence of Ho:Lu2O3 transparent ceramics was studied in the Visible and IR domains as a function of Ho3+ dopant level from 0.5 at.% to 10 at.%. A cross-relaxation mechanism was identified and favors the 2 mu m emission. All of the obtained results indicate that the optical properties are very similar between Lu2-xHoxO3 transparent ceramics and single crystals. Thus, the SPS technique appears to be a very promising method to manufacture such ceramics, which could be used as amplifier media for high-energy solid-state lasers.
Boulon G., 2013, Is There Segregation of Rare Earth Ions in Garnet Optical Ceramics?, DOI [10.1007/978-94-007-5313-6_16, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5313-6_16]
Boulon G., 2013, Is There Segregation of Rare Earth Ions in Garnet Optical Ceramics?, DOI [10.1007/978-94-007-5313-6_16, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-5313-6_16]