The phase, microstructure evolution and the Nd3+ function in the fabrication process of LuAG transparent ceramics.

Nd:LuAG transparent ceramics were fabricated by the solid-state reaction under vacuum sintering using SiO 2 and MgO as sintering aids, commercial Lu 2 O 3 , Al 2 O 3 and Nd 2 O 3 as raw materials. The Nd doping concentration was adopted from 0 at. % to 1.3 at. %. The phase transformation and microstructure evolution of 1.3 at. % Nd:LuAG ceramics under different sintering temperature was investigated in detail. Meanwhile, the effects of Nd 2 O 3 on the grain growth were surveyed. The results shown that when the samples were sintered at 1780 °C, the 1.3 at. % Nd:LuAG ceramic had clean gain boundary, and the transmittance of it reached 83.8% at 1064 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]