Overview of transparent optical ceramics for high-energy lasers at NRL: publisher's note.

This note amends the author list of a recent publication [Appl. Opt.54, F210 (2015)].

Overview of transparent optical ceramics for high-energy lasers at NRL.

In this review, we present our recent research progress at the Naval Research Laboratory in the development of highly transparent and rugged ceramic window materials such as MgAl2O4 spinel and β-SiC; high-power solid-state laser gain materials based on sesquioxide such as Yb(3+):Y2O3, Yb(3+):Lu2O3, and Ho(3+):Lu2O3; and composite ceramics in the application for high-energy lasers. Various powder synthesis/purification methods and powder post-process techniques necessary to create high-purity powders are described. Ceramic fabrication processes and chemical, morphological, and optical properties of the ceramics developed at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) are highlighted.

Ceramic Laser Materials.

Ceramic laser materials have come a long way since the first demonstration of lasing in 1964. Improvements in powder synthesis and ceramic sintering as well as novel ideas have led to notable achievements. These include the first Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramic laser in 1995, breaking the 1 KW mark in 2002 and then the remarkable demonstration of more than 100 KW output power from a YAG ceramic laser system in 2009.

10% Yb3+-Lu2O3 ceramic laser with 74% efficiency.

We demonstrate laser oscillation at 1080 nm with more than 16 W of output power and with an optical-to-optical slope efficiency of up to 74% using a 10% Yb3+ doped Lu2O3 ceramic made by hot pressing. This represents the highest output power and efficiency obtained for a Yb3+ doped Lu2O3 ceramic and demonstrates the feasibility for power scaling.