Practical laser generation from polycrystalline ceramic materials has become available; furthermore, it is expected that ceramic laser technology will completely surpass the conventional glass and single crystal laser technologies in the future. In this work development of high quality ceramic laser materials was successfully done by control on macro-, micro- and nano-structural refinement. Transparency and optical homogeneity were confirmed to be high enough for the development of high power laser generation. In addition optical defects such as residual pores and atomic defects were hardly observed in the fabricated ceramic laser elements.

Invaluable guide for physicists, materials scientists and engineers working on laser ceramics, co-authored by a pioneer of the subject.

PROCESSING OF CERAMICS A firsthand account of the “transparent ceramics revolution” from one of the pioneers in the field Processing of Ceramics: Breakthroughs in Optical Materials is an in-depth survey of the breakthrough research and development of transparent ceramics, covering historical background, theory, manufacturing processes, and applications. Written by an internationally-recognized leader in the technology, this authoritative volume describes advances in optical grade ceramics over the past three decades—from the author’s first demonstration of laser ceramics in Japan in 1991 to new applications of transparent ceramics such as ceramic jewels, wireless heating elements, and mobile device displays. The author provides numerous development examples of laser ceramics, crystal and ceramic scintillators, magneto-optic transparent ceramics, optical ceramic phosphors for solid state lighting, and more. Detailed chapters cover topics such as the technical problems of conventional translucent and transparent ceramics, the characteristics of scintillation materials, single crystal and ceramic scintillator fabrication and optimization, and solid-state crystal growth (SSCG) methods for single crystal ceramics. Processing of Ceramics: Outlines the author’s 30 years of work in the area of transparent ceramics Provides a detailed history of the world's first ceramic laser development Demonstrates how laser oscillation using ceramic materials match or surpass high-quality single crystals Describes how innovative polycrystalline ceramics have transformed optical material development Includes extensive references, chapter introductions and summaries, and numerous graphs, tables, diagrams, and color images Processing of Ceramics is an invaluable resource for researchers, materials scientists, engineers, and other professionals across academic and industrial fields involved in the development and application of optical grade ceramics.

Until recently, ceramic materials were considered unsuitable for optics due to the numerous scattering sources, such as grain boundaries and residual pores. However, in the 1990s the technology to generate a coherent beam from ceramic materials was developed, and a highly efficient laser oscillation was realized. In the future, the technology derived from the development of the ceramic laser could be used to develop new functional passive and active optics. Co-authored by one of the pioneers of this field, the book describes the fabrication technology and theoretical characterization of ceramic material properties. It describes novel types of solid lasers and other optics using ceramic materials to demonstrate the application of ceramic gain media in the generation of coherent beams and light amplification. This is an invaluable guide for physicists, materials scientists and engineers working on laser ceramics.

Ceramics are refractory, inorganic, and non-metallic materials. They can be divided into two classes: traditional and advanced. Traditional ceramics include clay products, silicate glass and cement; while advanced ceramics consist of carbides (SiC), pure oxides (Al2O3), nitrides (Si3N4), non-silicate glasses and many others. Ceramics offer many advantages compared to other materials. They are harder and stiffer than steel; more heat and corrosion resistant than metals or polymers; less dense than most metals and their alloys; and their raw materials are both plentiful and inexpensive. Ceramic materials display a wide range of properties which facilitate their use in many different product areas. This new book presents leading-edge research in this field from around the world.

PROCESSING OF CERAMICS A firsthand account of the “transparent ceramics revolution” from one of the pioneers in the field Processing of Ceramics: Breakthroughs in Optical Materials is an in-depth survey of the breakthrough research and development of transparent ceramics, covering historical background, theory, manufacturing processes, and applications. Written by an internationally-recognized leader in the technology, this authoritative volume describes advances in optical grade ceramics over the past three decades—from the author’s first demonstration of laser ceramics in Japan in 1991 to new applications of transparent ceramics such as ceramic jewels, wireless heating elements, and mobile device displays. The author provides numerous development examples of laser ceramics, crystal and ceramic scintillators, magneto-optic transparent ceramics, optical ceramic phosphors for solid state lighting, and more. Detailed chapters cover topics such as the technical problems of conventional translucent and transparent ceramics, the characteristics of scintillation materials, single crystal and ceramic scintillator fabrication and optimization, and solid-state crystal growth (SSCG) methods for single crystal ceramics. Processing of Ceramics: Outlines the author’s 30 years of work in the area of transparent ceramics Provides a detailed history of the world's first ceramic laser development Demonstrates how laser oscillation using ceramic materials match or surpass high-quality single crystals Describes how innovative polycrystalline ceramics have transformed optical material development Includes extensive references, chapter introductions and summaries, and numerous graphs, tables, diagrams, and color images Processing of Ceramics is an invaluable resource for researchers, materials scientists, engineers, and other professionals across academic and industrial fields involved in the development and application of optical grade ceramics.