Infrared Properties of Yttrium Oxide

Abstract

By using a large solar furnace, yttrium oxide crystals were made by a fusion process, and their reflectivity was measured in the spectral region 700 to 10 cm⁻¹, Several reststrahlen bands extending from 600 to 240 cm⁻¹ were found. From the reflectivity curve, the parameters of seven lattice vibrations were analysed, and the optical constants in a wide spectral region were deduced. The transmittance measurement was made by using crystalline powder embedded in a polyethylene film and several weak bands were found in the far-infrared region. By measuring the transmittance of a thin plate of fused crystal, a number of summation bands were observed in the near-infrared region. In summarizing the bands, some considerations were given on the vibrational behaviour of yittrium oxide crystals.