ROLE OF SI ON ND SOLID-SOLUTION OF YAG CE RAMICS

Excellent transparent YAG ceramics, which contain Nd additives from 1. 2 to 1.2 at%, were fabricated by the solid-state reaction method using high purity powders (>99.99 mass%) of Al2O3, Y2O3 and Nd2O3. The prec ipitated phase (Y1-deltaNddeltaAlO3) in accordance with increase in Nd content was clearly observed in Nd:YAG ceramics undoped with ethyl si licate. In the case of Nd:YAG ceramics doped with ethyl silicate, the precipitated phases in Nd:YAG ceramics disappeared with adequate addit ion of ethyl silicate. The Nd:YAG ceramics doped with ethyl silicate w ere con firmed optical perfect isotropy in dark field image under cros s nicols and fully transparent. Beam scattering was hardly observed wh en the He-Ne laser beam was irradiated into the polished 4.8 at% Nd:YA G ceramics.