Elasto-optical study of stabilized cubic zirconia

The piezo-optical coefficients π_11-{{{π}}}₁₂$ and ${{{π}}}₄₄$ of cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia are measured as a function of wavelength, temperature, and yttria concentration. The results show that the piezo-optical coefficients increase nonlinearly with temperature. The dispersion of the elasto-optical constants n⁴{p}ᵢⱼ$ for 20-wt % yttria composition is determined and attributed to a direct energy-gap electronic transition.