YAG ceramic joined body and production method therefor
A YAG ceramic bonded body in which a YAG ceramic and a YAG ceramic or optical glass are bonded, wherein the YAG ceramic bonded body comprises glass as a bonding layer, and has a rate of change of transmittance that is within 7%. An object of this invention is to provide a bonded body in which a YAG ceramic and a YAG ceramic are bonded, or a bonded body in which a YAG ceramic and optical glass are bonded, and which is capable of suppressing the reflection of light at the bonded interface, as well as the production method thereof.
1. A YAG ceramic bonded body for use in a laser application, wherein a YAG ceramic as a laser medium and a YAG ceramic or optical glass as a light-absorbing layer are bonded, excitation light is introduced from the light-absorbing layer placed around the laser medium, and laser is output in a direction that is vertical to an incident direction of the excitation light from the laser medium, wherein the YAG ceramic bonded body comprises glass as a bonding layer for bonding the laser medium and the light-absorbing layer, and has a rate of change of transmittance that is within 7%, wherein the glass as a bonding layer is selected from the group consisting of alkalisilicate-based glass material, aluminosilicate-based glass, borosilicate-based glass, germanosilicate-based glass, and bismuth borate-based glass.
2. The YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 1 , wherein the glass as the bonding layer has a refractive index of 1.71 to 1.91 relative to light having a wavelength of 650 nm.
3. The YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 2 , wherein the laser medium and light-absorbing layer are, respectively, Yb:YAG and Yb:YAG, Nd:YAG and Nd:YAG, Yb:YAG and Cr:YAG, or Yb:YAG and Sm:YAG.
4. The YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 2 , wherein the optical glass has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 7 to 9 ppm/K.
5. A method of producing the YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 4 , wherein the bonding layer as melted glass is coated on a surface of the laser medium, and the light-absorbing layer is bonded to the surface coated with the melted glass, and thereafter the melted glass is cooled.
6. A method of producing the YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 3 , wherein the bonding layer as melted glass is coated on a surface of one of the laser medium or light-absorbing layer, and the other of the laser medium or light-absorbing layer is bonded to the surface coated with the melted glass, and thereafter the melted glass is cooled.
7. A method of producing the YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 2 , wherein the bonding layer as melted glass is coated on a surface of one of the laser medium or light-absorbing layer, and the other of the laser medium or light-absorbing layer is bonded to the surface coated with the melted glass, and thereafter the melted glass is cooled.
8. A method of producing the YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 1 , wherein the bonding layer as melted glass is coated on a surface of one of the laser medium or light-absorbing layer, and the other of the laser medium or light-absorbing layer is bonded to the surface coated with the melted glass, and thereafter the melted glass is cooled.
9. The YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 1 , wherein the laser medium and light-absorbing layer are, respectively, Yb:YAG and Yb:YAG, Nd:YAG and Nd:YAG, Yb:YAG and Cr:YAG, or Yb:YAG and Sm:YAG.
10. A method of producing the YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 9 , wherein the bonding layer as melted glass is coated on a surface of the laser medium, and the light-absorbing layer is bonded to the surface coated with the melted glass, and thereafter the melted glass is cooled.
11. The YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 1 , wherein the optical glass has a refractive index of 1.71 to 1.91 relative to light having a wavelength of 650 nm, and has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 7 to 9 ppm/K.
12. A method of producing the YAG ceramic bonded body according to claim 11 , wherein the bonding layer as melted glass is coated on a surface of one of the laser medium or light-absorbing layer, and the other of the laser medium or light-absorbing layer is bonded to the surface coated with the melted glass, and thereafter the melted glass is cooled.