Fabrication of 4 at.% La3+ ion doped (TbxLu0.96−x)2O3 transparent ceramics by using NC-PLSH technology and characterisation of their magneto-optical properties

Nanocrystalline powders and pressureless sintering (NC-PLSH) were used in a H 2 atmosphere to fabricate 4 at.% La 3+ doped (Tb x Lu 0.96−x ) 2 O 3 magneto-optical transparent ceramics. La 3+ was utilised as a sintering aid, and Lu 3+ was used as a phase stabiliser . A component of the (Tb x Lu 0.96−x La 0.04 ) 2 O 3 magneto-optical material was designed and investigated based on powder sinterability and green compact sintering. Transparent (Tb x Lu 0.96−x La 0.04 ) 2 O 3 ceramics were obtained by using a one-step sintering process in H 2 atmosphere, without the need for subsequent hot isostatic pressing . The in-line transmittance of the as-polished 4 at.% La 3+ :(Tb 0.8 Lu 0.16 ) 2 O 3 ceramic was 79% at 1400 nm. The measured Verdet constant at wavelengths of 633 nm and 1064 nm was 354 rad/(T·m) and 100.2 rad/(T·m), respectively. The required length of the (Tb 0.8 Lu 0.16 La 0.04 ) 2 O 3 ceramics was 63% less than that of Tb 3 Ga 5 O 12 ceramics.