초록 ▼

The invention relates to aluminoborosilicate-based glasses suitable for use as a solid laser medium. In particular, these aluminoborosilicate-based laser glasses exhibit broad emission bandwidths of rare earth lasing ions. Although not entirely understood, the broadening of the emission bandwidth is

The invention relates to aluminoborosilicate-based glasses suitable for use as a solid laser medium. In particular, these aluminoborosilicate-based laser glasses exhibit broad emission bandwidths of rare earth lasing ions. Although not entirely understood, the broadening of the emission bandwidth is believed to be achieved by the presence of significant amounts of lanthanide ions in the glass matrix. In addition, because of the high values of Young's modulus, fracture toughness and hardness, the rare earth aluminoborosilicate glass system according to the invention is also suitable as transparent armor window material.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition consisting essentially of (based on mol %): SiO225.00-57.00 B2O35.00-28.00Al2O32.00-27.00La2O35.00-18.00R2O (R = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)0.00-27.00MO (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn) 0.00-30.00. 2. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein s

1. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition consisting essentially of (based on mol %): SiO225.00-57.00 B2O35.00-28.00Al2O32.00-27.00La2O35.00-18.00R2O (R = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)0.00-27.00MO (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn) 0.00-30.00. 2. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein said glass composition contains no lasing rare earth ions. 3. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein said glass composition consists essentially of (based on mol %): SiO230.00-55.00 B2O35.00-25.00Al2O33.00-25.00La2O35.00-18.00R2O (R = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)0.00-20.00MO (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn)0.00-27.00. 4. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 3, wherein said glass composition contains no lasing rare earth ions. 5. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition contains 27.00-57.00 mol % of SiO2. 6. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition contains 6.00-27.00 mol % of B2O3. 7. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition contains 2.00-25.00 mol % of Al2O3. 8. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition contains 5.00-15.00 mol % of La2O3. 9. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of Al2O3 to La2O3 is 0.70-5.00. 10. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition possesses a Young's Modulus of at least 80 GPa. 11. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition possesses an Indentation Fracture Toughness for 3.0N Load, KIC, of at least 0.80 MPa·m1/2. 12. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 1, wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition possesses a Knoop Hardness, HK, of at least 550. 13. In a transparent armor material comprising at least one layer of glass, the improvement wherein said at least one layer of glass is a glass composition according to claim 1. 14. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition comprising (based on mol %): SiO225.00-57.00 B2O35.00-28.00Al2O32.00-27.00La2O313.00-28.00 R2O (R = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)0.00-27.00MO (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn)0.00-30.00Ln2O3 (Ln = Nd, Yb, or other lasing rare earth ions)>0.30-10.00  Sum of La2O3 + Ln2O3>13.30-30.00.   15. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 14, wherein said glass composition comprises (based on mol %): SiO230.00-55.00 B2O35.00-25.00Al2O33.00-25.00La2O313.00-25.00 R2O (R = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)0.00-20.00MO (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn)0.00-27.00Ln2O3 (Ln = Nd, Yb, or other lasing rare earth ions)>0.30-8.00 Sum of La2O3 + Ln2O3>13.30-28.00.  16. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 14, wherein said glass composition comprises (based on mol %): SiO240.00-50.00B2O3 5.00-25.00Al2O315.00-27.00La2O313.00-25.00Yb2O3 0.00-8.00Nd2O3 0.00-6.00 wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition is essentially free of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals. 17. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 16, wherein said glass composition comprises (based on mol %): SiO240.00-50.00B2O3 5.00-18.00Al2O315.00-27.00La2O313.00-25.00Yb2O3 0.00-8.00Nd2O30.00-6.00 wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition is essentially free of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals. 18. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 14, wherein the amount of Ln2O3, wherein Ln represents a rare earth lasing ion, is 0.5-8 mol %. 19. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 14, wherein the lasing element Ln is Nd or Yb. 20. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 14, wherein the sum of the La2O3 and Ln2O3 content in the aluminoborosilicate glass composition is >13.30-28.00 mol %. 21. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 14, wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition contains 0.10-10.00 mol % Yb2O3 and/or 0.10-5.00 mol % Nd2O3. 22. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 14, wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition contains R2O, where R=Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the ratio of R2O/(Al2O3+R2O) is 0.60. 23. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition according to claim 14, wherein said composition exhibits an effective emission bandwidth (λλeff) of at least 33 nm. 24. In a solid state laser system comprising a solid gain medium and a pumping source, the improvement wherein said solid gain medium is a glass having a composition in accordance with claim 14. 25. A laser system according to claim 24, wherein the power output of system is at least a pettawatt per pulse or greater. 26. A method for generating a laser beam pulse comprising flashlamp pumping or diode pumping a glass composition according to claim 14. 27. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition consisting essentially of (based on mol %): SiO250.00-57.00B2O310.00-20.00Al2O3 3.00-10.00La2O3 5.00-10.00Yb2O3 0.00-10.00Nd2O30.00-6.00R2O (R = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)15.00-20.00 wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition is essentially free of alkaline earth metals. 28. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition comprising (based on mol %): SiO240.00-50.00B2O310.00-15.00Al2O315.00-25.00La2O30.00-5.00Yb2O30.00-5.00Nd2O30.00-5.00MO (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn)15.00-25.00 wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition is essentially free of alkali metals. 29. An aluminoborosilicate glass composition comprising (based on mol %): SiO225.00-57.00 B2O35.00-28.00Al2O32.00-27.00La2O35.00-28.00R2O (R = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs)>0.00-27.00 MO (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn)0.00-30.00Ln2O3 (Ln = Nd, Yb, or other lasing rare earth ions)>0.30-10.00 Sum of La2O3 + Ln2O3>5.30-30.00  wherein the aluminoborosilicate glass composition contains R2O, where R=Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the ratio of R2O/(Al2O3+R2O) is 0.60.