Abstract: To provide a Tb-containing rare earth-aluminum garnet ceramic which has a Verdet constant similar to that of a TGG single crystal used in an isolator, has an insertion loss and extinction ratio equal to or greater than those of a TGG single crystal, generates less heat when a high-power laser is applied thereto, and is unlikely to cause a thermal lens effect or thermal birefringence. The present invention relates to: a Tb-containing rare earth-aluminum garnet ceramic including a garnet polycrystal represented by the compositional formula (TbxRe1-x)3(AlySc1-y)5O12 wherein Re is at least one element selected from a group consisting of Y and Lu, x=1.0-0.5, and y=1.0-0.6, and including Si and at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ca and Mg; a method for producing same; and an isolator device obtained using the ceramic.

Abstract: A phosphor includes a sintered body of a ceramic material. The sintered body contains Ce:Y3Al5O12 as a main phase and a ceramic material as a subphase. The ceramic material has a refractive index different from that of the main phase. The sintered body has a crystal grain boundary and a void at the crystal grain boundary.

Abstract: A transparent ceramic having terbium oxide (Tb2O3) in a molar ratio of at least 40%; and at least one oxide selected among an yttrium oxide, a scandium oxide, and a lanthanide rare earth oxide, wherein (1) the crystal structure of the terbium-oxide-based ceramic does not contain a non-cubic-crystal phase, (2) the mean crystal particle diameter is in a range of 0.5 to 100 ?m, and (3) the ceramic comprises a sintering auxiliary having no incidence of deposition of a non-cubic-crystal phase in the crystal structure of the terbium-oxide-based ceramic. This transparent ceramic makes a magneto-optical element that performs at least as well as terbium gallium garnet or other existing monocrystal materials. It also makes a functional element for an optical isolator in the infrared region between 500 nm and 1.5 ?m having very little scattering and very few birefringence components.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a transparent sesquioxide sintered body by which a transparent M2O3 type sesquioxide sintered body can be manufactured. A powder including particles of an oxide of at least one rare earth element selected from Y, Sc or lanthanide elements and Zr oxide particles is prepared as a raw material powder, wherein in the particle size distribution of the rare earth element oxide particles, or in the particle size distribution of secondary particles in the case where the rare earth element oxide particles are agglomerated to form the secondary particles, the particle diameter D2.5 value at which the cumulative particle amount from the minimum particle size side is 2.5% based on the total particle amount is in the range from 180 nm to 2000 nm, inclusive. The raw material powder is press molded into a predetermined shape, followed by sintering.

Abstract: A transparent ceramic having terbium oxide (Tb2O3) in a molar ratio of at least 40%; and at least one oxide selected among an yttrium oxide, a scandium oxide, and a lanthanide rare earth oxide, wherein (1) the crystal structure of the terbium-oxide-based ceramic does not contain a non-cubic-crystal phase, (2) the mean crystal particle diameter is in a range of 0.5 to 100 ?m, and (3) the ceramic comprises a sintering auxiliary having no incidence of deposition of a non-cubic-crystal phase in the crystal structure of the terbium-oxide-based ceramic. This transparent ceramic makes a magneto-optical element that performs at least as well as terbium gallium garnet or other existing monocrystal materials. It also makes a functional element for an optical isolator in the infrared region between 500 nm and 1.5 ?m having very little scattering and very few birefringence components.

Abstract: The method of making a transparent ceramic includes making a molded body from a powder mixture of starting materials, which include one or more sintering aids. The sintering aids can include SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, HfO2, Al2O3 and/or fluorides. The transparent ceramic is made by pre-sintering the molded body at temperatures between 500° C. to 900° C., subsequently sintering in vacuum at temperatures between 1400° C. and 1900° C. and then pressurizing the sintered molded body at a pressure of from 10 to 198 MPa followed by annealing. The optoceramic material contains crystals with a stoichiometry of A2+XBYBYDZE7, wherein ?1.15?x?+1.1, 0?y?3, 0?z?1.6 and 3x+4y+5z=8; and wherein A is a trivalent rare earth cation, B is a tetravalent cation, D is a pentavalent cation and E is a divalent anion.

Abstract: The optoceramics are transparent to visible light and/or infrared radiation. The optoceramics each consist of a crystal matrix, i.e. of polycrystalline material, wherein at least 95% by weight, preferably at least 98% by weight, of the single crystallites have a cubic pyrochlore or a fluorite structure. Refractive, transmissive or diffractive optical elements made with the optoceramics, their uses and an optical imaging system comprising at least one of the optical elements are also disclosed. Methods of manufacturing the optoceramics are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite laser element that solves the problems encountered with a conventional laser medium composed of an Nd:YAG single crystal or polycrystal, and exhibits excellent performance as a laser medium. The invention relates to a laser element in which two or more crystal materials are joined, wherein (1) at least one of the crystal materials is a transparent crystal material capable of laser oscillation, including a laser active element in a matrix crystal, and (2) the transparent crystal material capable of laser oscillation and/or a second crystal body joined thereto is a polycrystal.

Abstract: The method of making a transparent ceramic includes making a molded body from a powder mixture of starting materials, which include one or more sintering aids. The sintering aids can include SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, HfO2, Al2O3 and/or fluorides. The transparent ceramic is made by pre-sintering the molded body at temperatures between 500° C. to 900° C., subsequently sintering in vacuum at temperatures between 1400° C. and 1900° C. and then pressurizing the sintered molded body at a pressure of from 10 to 198 MPa followed by annealing. The optoceramic material contains crystals with a stoichiometry of A2+XBYBYDZE7, wherein ?1.15?x?+1.1, 0?y?3, 0?z?1.6 and 3x+4y+5z=8; and wherein A is a trivalent rare earth cation, B is a tetravalent cation, D is a pentavalent cation and E is a divalent anion.

Abstract: The optoceramics are transparent to visible light and/or infrared radiation. The optoceramics each consist of a crystal matrix, i.e. of polycrystalline material, wherein at least 95% by weight, preferably at least 98% by weight, of the single crystallites have a cubic pyrochlore or a fluorite structure. Refractive, transmissive or diffractive optical elements made with the optoceramics, their uses and an optical imaging system comprising at least one of the optical elements are also disclosed. Methods of manufacturing the optoceramics are described.

Abstract: BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal is single-crystallized by heating BaTiO3—PbTiO3 compact powder member or sintered member having a smaller Pb-containing mol number than Ba-containing mol number, while keeping the powder or substance in non-molten condition. In this way, this single crystal can be manufactured at a crystal growing speed faster still and stabilized more, significantly contributing to improving the dielectric loss and electromechanical coupling coefficient for the provision of excellent BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal in various properties, as well as for the provision of piezoelectric material having a small ratio of lead content, which is particularly excellent in piezoelectric property and productivity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite laser element that solves the problems encountered with a conventional laser medium composed of an Nd:YAG single crystal or polycrystal, and exhibits excellent performance as a laser medium. The invention relates to a laser element in which two or more crystal materials are joined, wherein (1) at least one of the crystal materials is a transparent crystal material capable of laser oscillation, including a laser active element in a matrix crystal, and (2) the transparent crystal material capable of laser oscillation and/or a second crystal body joined thereto is a polycrystal.

Abstract: BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal is single-crystallized by heating BaTiO3—PbTiO3 compact powder member or sintered member having a smaller Pb-containing mol number than Ba-containing mol number, while keeping the powder or substance in non-molten condition. In this way, this single crystal can be manufactured at a crystal growing speed faster still and stabilized more, significantly contributing to improving the dielectric loss and electromechanical coupling coefficient for the provision of excellent BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal in various properties, as well as for the provision of piezoelectric material having a small ratio of lead content, which is particularly excellent in piezoelectric property and productivity.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an actuator comprises the steps of bonding a piezoelectric film formed on a single crystal substrate to a diaphragm structure member and removing the single crystal substrate therefrom to manufacture the actuator. The single crystal substrate is a substrate having bonded portions where a plurality of single crystal substrates are bonded together.

Abstract: BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal is single-crystallized by heating BaTiO3—PbTiO3 compact powder member or sintered member having a smaller Pb-containing mol number than Ba-containing mol number, while keeping the powder or substance in non-molten condition. In this way, this single crystal can be manufactured at a crystal growing speed faster still and stabilized more, significantly contributing to improving the dielectric loss and electromechanical coupling coefficient for the provision of excellent BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal in various properties, as well as for the provision of piezoelectric material having a small ratio of lead content, which is particularly excellent in piezoelectric property and productivity.

Abstract: BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal is single-crystallized by heating BaTiO3—PbTiO3 compact powder member or sintered member having a smaller Pb-containing mol number than Ba-containing mol number, while keeping the powder or substance in non-molten condition. In this way, this single crystal can be manufactured at a crystal growing speed faster still and stabilized more, significantly contributing to improving the dielectric loss and electromechanical coupling coefficient for the provision of excellent BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal in various properties, as well as for the provision of piezoelectric material having a small ratio of lead content, which is particularly excellent in piezoelectric property and productivity.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an actuator omprises the steps of bonding a piezoelectric film formed on a single crystal substrate to a diaphragm structure member and removing the single crystal substrate therefrom to manufacture the actuator. The single crystal substrate is a substrate having bonded portions where a plurality of single crystal substrates are bonded together.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to efficiently provide a high-quality rare-earth iron garnet single crystal. The invention relates to a rare-earth iron garnet single crystal substantially composed of an Re3Fe5-xMxO12 single crystal (where Re is at least one element selected from Y, Bi, Ca, and lanthanide rare-earth elements with atomic numbers of 62 to 71; M is at least one element selected from Al, Ga, Sc, In, Sn and transition metal elements with atomic numbers of 22 to 30; and 0≦x<5), with the number per unit surface area (grains/cm2) of crystal grains that form low-angle tilt boundaries equal to 0≦n≦102; and also relates to a device in which this rare-earth iron garnet single crystal is used.

Abstract: BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal is single-crystallized by heating BaTiO3—PbTiO3 compact powder member or sintered member having a smaller Pb-containing mol number than Ba-containing mol number, while keeping the powder or substance in non-molten condition. In this way, this single crystal can be manufactured at a crystal growing speed faster still and stabilized more, significantly contributing to improving the dielectric loss and electromechanical coupling coefficient for the provision of excellent BaTiO3—PbTiO3 series single crystal in various properties, as well as for the provision of piezoelectric material having a small ratio of lead content, which is particularly excellent in piezoelectric property and productivity.

Abstract: A laser oscillator which uses a granular laser gain medium to secure a large gain volume and is capable of suppressing resonator loss caused by granular-boundary scattering. A suspension (1), which is obtained by dispersing a number of dielectric grains doped with a luminous element in fluid having refractive index matched with that of the dielectric grains, is filled in a cell (6). The cell (6) filled with the suspension (1) is disposed in an optical resonator constituted by a rear mirror (3) and an output mirror (4). When the cell (6) is irradiated with excitation light (2), the dielectric grains in the suspension (1) are subjected to laser pumping and a laser beam (5) is output. Since the dielectric grains coexist with the refractive index-matched fluid, the granular-boundary scattering is suppressed, making it possible to provide a low-loss optical resonator. Dielectric grains with a slightly greater diameter may alternatively be distributed in filling liquid which is refractive index-matched fluid.