ABSTRACT
Doping of polycrystalline alumina with rare earth elements for obtaining light emission properties extends the range of possible applications of this material. Careful optimisation of the whole sintering process provides an opportunity of material transparency which together with the photoluminescence makes polycrystalline alumina suitable for application in phosphors for HB LED or solid state lasers where it can replace single crystals or glasses. The alumina ceramics prepared in the framework of SoMoPro project exhibit both transparency and photoluminescence and the presentation will report about the preparation and characterisation of the material and optimisation of its physical, mechanical and optical properties.