Polycrystalline Laser-Host Material

Oxide nanopowders are increasingly used in manufacturing laser-quality polycrystalline materials for military and civilian applications. Despite the advances in component processing and design for improved optical transmission, new concepts and technology are needed to produce high-purity raw material nanopowder on a large scale. nGimat Co., in collaboration with Penn State University, is proposing a Phase I SBIR program to demonstrate and develop a large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing process for high-purity yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) and 1%Nd doped YAG nanopowders. Optical absorption, emission spectra and fluorescence lifetime of these materials will be measured and compared to that of single crystals fabricated by the Czochralski method. By utilizing nGimat's unique aerosol generator, the Nanomiserâ device, and inexpensive equipment and chemical precursors, the proposed process offers high-purity, cost savings and flexibility in controlling Nd distribution as a luminescence element in YAG. Selected transparent polycrystalline YAG and 1% Nd doped YAG sintered tiles and/or disks with in-line transmission properties close to single crystal Nd-YAG will be provided to the Army Research Laboratory for evaluation. Successful completion of Phase I objectives will lead to a Phase II effort to complete development and commercialization of the low-cost, high-volume powder manufacturing technology.