title: Light scattering by pores in transparent Nd:YAG ceramics for lasers: correlations between microstructure and optical properties.
abstract: Nd:YAG ceramics for laser applications were elaborated with various residual porosities by reaction-sintering process. The porosity analysis with CLSM and SEM led to the determination of the pore volume fraction after sintering. This study revealed that the mean pore size of Nd:YAG ceramics was around 0.7 microm while the residual porosity was ranging between 10(-1)% and 10(-4)%. These pore contents affect the transparency and laser efficiency of ceramics. The analytical model based on the Mie light scattering fairly fits the experimental data. This demonstrates that the porosity in Nd:YAG ceramics should be lower than 10(-4)% to reach single-crystal laser efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Science des Procédés Céramiques et de Traitements de Surface, Université de Limoges, UMR CNRS 6638, 123 Avenue Albert-Thomas, F-87060 LIMOGES Cedex, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boulesteix
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maître
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Baumard
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rabinovitch
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reynaud