Research progress and prospects of rare-earth doped sesquioxide laser ceramics

Sesquioxide ceramics (Y2O3, Lu2O3 and Sc2O3) along with their solid solutions show great potential as hosts for solid-state laser gain materials due to their great suitability for various rare-earth ions, comparably physical properties to single crystals and far lower preparation temperature than the melting point (above 2400 degrees C). In this work, the development of the fabrication of rare-earth ions doped-sesquioxide ceramics like synthesis of raw nano-powders and ceramic sintering is reviewed, which demonstrates that the ceramics fabricated by vacuum sintering plus hot isostatic pressing technology from well-dispersive nano-powders possess high transparency with uniform microstructures. And the stable synthesis of powders, optical quality and large-scale preparation of ceramics need further investigation. Meanwhile, the progress on laser performance of the corresponding transparent ceramics is also summarized, which reveals that rare-earth active ions doped sesquioxide ceramics have great potential in efficient high power and ultrashort pulse laser applications during 1 similar to 3 mu m.

Automated summary

Sesquioxide ceramics and their solid solutions are considered ideal hosts for solid-state laser gain materials, especially for rare-earth ions. The review of the fabrication process and laser performance demonstrates their great potential in high power and ultrashort pulse laser applications.