Single-step fabrication of transparent SrF2 ceramics for optical applications

Abstract

Strontium fluoride ceramics have multiple prospective advantages over currently-used phosphate glass as a host for Nd ions in high-energy laser gain media, but fluoride ceramics have yet to be developed into usable gain media because of difficulties in processing. Past work on fluorides has primarily focused on processing from the liquid phase, such as fusion casting and hot forging. A powder processing route has been developed for strontium fluoride, achieving optical scatter as low as ~0.4%/cm at 1.3 μm, which is within the usable range for high-energy laser use. A series of hot-pressed samples exhibit decreasing optical scatter and increasing grain size with increasing process temperature.