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

ABSTRACT: This effort is a close collaboration between RMD and Alfred University. Our goal is to develop a process for producing optical ceramics with properties approaching or exceeding single crystals. Ceramic processing can provide enhanced performance, lower cost, higher yield, relaxed constraints on size and shape, and materials that are difficult or impossible to grow as crystals. We will study rare earth oxyorthosilicates, which are desirable for laser hosts and scintillators, but which are difficult and expensive to grow as crystals. The Phase I will focus on understanding the influence of a magnetic field, on learning to control the effect, and on demonstrating a process that is applicable to a number of materials. Phase I has three objectives: 1) Investigate the influence of magnetic field on particulates; 2) Identify mechanisms and study methods to control the effect; 3) Demonstrate enhanced orientation. BENEFIT: The successful development of this technology will have significant technical and economic impact. RMD (and our sister company Hilger Crystals) will implement two strategies for commercialization: first, for the commercial production of scintillator radiation detectors for defense, security and medical instrumentation, and nondestructive equipment, and, ultimately, for the production of materials for other applications including lasers and other optical components.