Recent advancements in Sm3+-doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG) transparent ceramics have demonstrated exceptional potential for photonic applications, particularly in solid-state lasers and optical amplifiers. The incorporation of Sm3+ ions into the YAG matrix enhances its luminescent properties due to the efficient energy transfer between the host lattice and the dopant ions. Studies have shown that a doping concentration of 1.5 mol% Sm3+ yields an emission peak at 598 nm with a quantum efficiency of 92%. The ceramics exhibit a transmittance of 85% in the visible spectrum (400-700 nm), making them highly suitable for high-power laser systems. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of Sm3+-doped YAG remains at 10.5 W/m·K, comparable to undoped YAG, ensuring minimal thermal degradation under intense laser operation.
The fabrication process of Sm3+-doped YAG transparent ceramics has been optimized using advanced sintering techniques such as vacuum sintering and hot isostatic pressing (HIP). Vacuum sintering at 1750°C for 10 hours followed by HIP at 1700°C under 200 MPa pressure results in ceramics with a density of 99.98% of theoretical value and an average grain size of 2.5 µm. This ultra-high densification minimizes scattering centers, leading to an optical loss coefficient as low as 0.002 cm^-1 at 1064 nm. The uniformity of Sm3+ distribution, confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), ensures consistent luminescent performance across the ceramic volume.
The spectroscopic properties of Sm3+-doped YAG have been extensively characterized, revealing unique advantages for specific applications. The emission spectrum exhibits prominent peaks at 563 nm, 598 nm, and 645 nm, corresponding to the ^4G5/2 → ^6H5/2, ^4G5/2 → ^6H7/2, and ^4G5/2 → ^6H9/2 transitions, respectively. The fluorescence lifetime of the ^4G5/2 level is measured at 1.8 ms, indicating efficient radiative decay processes. Additionally, the stimulated emission cross-section at 598 nm is calculated to be 1.2 × 10^-20 cm^2, which is competitive with other rare-earth-doped laser materials such as Nd:YAG.
The mechanical properties of Sm3+-doped YAG ceramics have also been investigated to assess their suitability for harsh operational environments. Vickers hardness measurements reveal a value of 15 GPa, comparable to single-crystal YAG, while fracture toughness is measured at 2.1 MPa·m^1/2. These properties ensure durability under high-stress conditions typical in laser systems. Moreover, the thermal shock resistance parameter (R) is calculated to be 750 W/m, indicating excellent resistance to thermal cracking during rapid temperature fluctuations.
Finally, recent studies have explored the potential of Sm3+-doped YAG ceramics in novel applications such as radiation dosimetry and scintillation detectors. The material exhibits a linear response to gamma radiation up to a dose rate of 10^4 Gy/h with a detection sensitivity of 0.05 Gy^-1·cm^-3. Additionally, the scintillation decay time is measured at <100 ns under X-ray excitation, making it suitable for high-speed radiation detection systems.
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