Improved 2.0 μm luminescence by doping Ce3+ ions in Yb3+, Ho3+:YAG transparent ceramics

A series of Yb 3+ , Ho 3+ , Ce 3+ :YAG ceramics have been sintered at 1780 °C by high temperature solid state reaction under oxygen atmosphere. The absorption spectra , fluorescence spectra and fluorescence decay curve were discussed. The Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory was applied to obtain the values of Ω 2  = 13.95 × 10 −20 cm 2 , Ω 4  = 3.94 × 10 −20 cm 2 and Ω 6  = 0.87 × 10 −20 cm 2 , respectively. After doping the Ce 3+ ions, the σ em ${\sigma }_{\mathit{em}}$ of Yb 3+ , Ho 3+ , Ce 3+ :YAG ceramic at 2094 nm increased from 5.67 × 10 −20 cm 2 to 7.26 × 10 −20 cm 2 . These results demonstrate that Yb 3+ , Ho 3+ , Ce 3+ :YAG ceramic could be promising for 2 μm region.