Synthesis, characterization and absorption saturation of Co:ZnAl2O4 (gahnite) transparent ceramic and glass-ceramics: A comparative study

Abstract Transparent polycrystalline ZnAl2O4 (gahnite) ceramic doped with 0.1 at.% Co2+ is synthesized by hot pressing of powders (1600 °C, 50 MPa) using the sintering additive, ZnF2. Structure, Raman spectra, linear and nonlinear spectroscopic properties of this material are characterized and compared to those of nanophase Co:ZnAl2O4-based transparent glass-ceramics (GCs). Co2+ ions in ZnAl2O4 ceramic exhibit absorption saturation at ∼1.54 μm (the 4A2(4F) → 4T1(4F) transition); the corresponding saturation fluence FS is 0.46 ± 0.07 J/cm2 and the saturation contrast γ = 0.15 ± 0.05. As compared to the transparent GCs, the main drawback of Co:ZnAl2O4 transparent ceramic is a low laser-induced damage threshold, which is attributed to the imperfect microstructure (the presence of pores and non-uniform grain size distribution). Providing optimization of the sintering process, the Co:ZnAl2O4 transparent ceramic looks promising for saturable absorbers of erbium lasers.

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