Single-crystal Y2O3-ZrO2 rectangular waveguides for ultrahigh-temperature sensing applications.
High-quality Y2O3-ZrO2 single-crystal rectangular waveguides have been developed for ultrahigh-temperature sensing applications. Five waveguides, 0.55-1.12 mm wide and 52-65 mm long, were fabricated from a bulky cubic 21.2-mol. % Y2O3 stabilized ZrO2 single crystal that had been precisely cut and finely polished. At 900-nm wavelength, the average optical loss of these waveguides is approximately 0.016 dB/cm, which is much lower than that of Y2O3-ZrO2 single-crystal optical fibers grown by the laser-heated pedestal growth method. The tested waveguides survived a temperature higher than 2,300 degrees C, and their mechanical strength and chemical resistance were also acceptable. Experimental results show that these waveguides are promising for ultrahigh-temperature sensing applications.
Tong
Limin
L
Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. ltong@fas.harvard.edu