Transparent Non-Cubic Ceramics Using Magnetic Fields to Control Microstructural Orientation

ABSTRACT: This effort is a collaboration between RMD and Alfred University. Our goal is to develop a process for producing optical ceramics with properties approaching or exceeding single crystals. Phase I of this program successfully demonstrated the ability to orient non-cubic, non-isotropic ceramic precursors based on material composition using a magnetic field, and prepared a foundation for better understanding and controlling the effect. Ceramic processing provides enhanced performance, lower cost, and relaxed constraints on size and shape. We are investigating rare earth oxyorthosilicates, scintillators that are expensive to grow as crystals, for use in lasers. Phase II objectives: 1) Develop a theory based process for producing transparent non-cubic ceramics. This will provide the basis for several commercial products including scintillators. 2) Produce a transparent non-cubic ceramic sample that exhibits optical signal gain. This is the basis for a new generation of commercial high power lasers. 3) Explore the application of the technology to a variety of materials. This expands the potential commercial base for this technology to more applications such as thermoelectrics, severe environment optical components, and piezoelectrics. RMD will implement two commercialization paths: first for scintillator radiation detectors for defense, medical, and nondestructive equipment; second for lasers and other optical components.; BENEFIT: The successful development of this technology will have significant technological and commercial impact. Ceramic scintillators offer the possibility of larger, more sensitive and much less expensive radiation detectors for defense, homeland security, research and nuclear medicine. Ceramic lasers offer much higher power lasers for defense and industry, as well as lower cost, and the ability to fabricate laser configurations that are impractical or impossible to produce using single crystals. Other commercial applications include visible, UV, and IR windows, lenses and optical components including electro-optical modulators, Faraday rotators, optical switches, high temperature fiber optic sensors for use in harsh and extreme environments. Additional products would include high efficiency thermoelectric generators and sensors, x-ray and neutron radiography screens, piezoelectric transducers, and high temperature superconductors.