Neodymium-doped laser yttrium oxide ceramics

We studied mechanical, optical, and lasing parameters of neodymium-doped yttrium oxide ceramics synthesised by using a new technology involving the laser synthesis of nanopowders and their magnetic pulsed compaction. The fracture toughness of ceramics to cracks and its microhardness were measured to be K_IC = 0.9—1.4 MPa m^1/2 and H_ν = 11.8 GPa, respectively. Ceramic samples sintered in the temperature range from 1550 to 2050°C have the porosity (1—150)×10^-4% and the optical loss coefficient α_1.07 = 0.03—2.1 cm^-1 at a wavelength of 1.07 μm. It is shown that such porosity does not affect the optical loss coefficient of light. Lasing at ≈1.079 μm with a slope efficiency of 15% was obtained in a 1.1-mm-thick sample pumped by laser diodes.