Three-dimensional grain boundary spectroscopy in transparent high power ceramic laser materials.
Using confocal Raman and fluorescence spectroscopic imaging in 3-dimensions, we show direct evidence of inhomogeneous Nd(3+) distribution across grain boundaries (GBs) in Nd(3+):YAG laser ceramics. It is clearly shown that Nd(3+) segregation takes place at GBs leading to self-fluorescence quenching which affects a volume fraction as high as 20%. In addition, we show a clear trend of increasing spatial inhomogeneities in Nd(3+) concentration when the doping levels exceeds 3 at%, which is not detected by standard spectrometry techniques. These results could point the way to further improvements in what is already an impressive class of ceramic laser materials.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Materials Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Mariola O
MO
Ramirez
Jeffrey
J
Wisdom
Haifeng
H
Li
Yan L
YL
Aung
Joseph
J
Stitt
Gary L
GL
Messing
V
V
Dierolf
Zhiwen
Z
Liu
Akio
A
Ikesue
Robert L
RL
Byer
Venkatraman
V
Gopalan
D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D007834:Lasers; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013696:Temperature