In order to mitigate the dopant concentration gradient by post-growth diffusion method, high optical quality Cr²⁺:ZnSe ceramics had been prepared by hot-pressing method with powders being diffusion doped in a previous step, which reduced the concentration gradient down to a grain size level. A optimal combination of sintering parameters, including temperature, pressure, dwell time, have been determined (1050°C/150MPa/2h) according to background absorption intensity. Comparison with diffusion doped CVD-grown ZnSe showed a stronger background absorption and blueshifted emission peak, both indicating scattering sources inside material. Micro-structure observation proved the inference above as being residual pores and inclusions, which could be eliminated or reduced by, as suggested here, preliminary treatment of powders and enhancement of densification pressure and dwell time.

Date Published: 9 July 2013
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 8786, Pacific Rim Laser Damage 2013: Optical Materials for High Power Lasers, 87860L (9 July 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2020424

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8786:
Pacific Rim Laser Damage 2013: Optical Materials for High Power Lasers
Jianda Shao; Takahisa Jitsuno; Wolfgang Rudolph, Editor(s)