Spectra of Selective Radiation of Al2O3 : Ti3+ under Laser-Thermal Heating

Abstract

In this Letter, we experimentally study the temperature dependence of the thermal radiation spectra of an Al2O3 : Ti3+ single crystal in the visible and near-infrared regions of the spectrum under laser-thermal heating. The thermal spectra of Al2O3 : Ti3+ in the temperature range of T = 330–900 K were found to differ significantly from the blackbody radiation spectrum and to be selective with a maximum at λ ≈ 1060 nm. The conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy due to the photovoltaic conversion of the selective radiation of a heated Al2O3 : Ti3+ single crystal by silicon photodiodes of the spectrometer receiving line was demonstrated. The possibility of applying the effect in thermovoltaic electric generators is discussed.