VISUAL DISPLAY SYSTEM COMPRISING EPITAXIAL TERBIUM-ACTIVATED GARNET MATERIAL

摘要

A visual display system utilizing novel epitaxial phosphor having high luminosity at about 540 nm has the composition (Y3-x-yTbxREy) (Al5-wGaw)O12, with RE being one (or more) 4f-type rare earth(s) other than Tb, 0.09 < x < 0.7, and 1.5 < w < 2.5. In preferred embodiments, RE is Lu, Yb, or Tm, 0.1 < x < 0.3, and 1.8 < w < 2.2. In further preferred embodiments, the phosphor composition is adjusted to yield a material having a lattice constant within 0.002 nm of the lattice constant of the substrate, typically Y3Al5O12. The phosphor is typically grown by liquid phase epitaxy and has application in a variety of apparatus, including avionic displays and flight simulators.