UV-VIS-IR

Ultra Pure Single Crystal LiF Windows

UV Grade Ultra-Pure LiF Single Crystal! Lithium Fluoride (LiF) is commonly used for optical components (windows, wedge windows, lenses, prisms) in a wide spectrum band from vacuum ultra-violet to infrared and is transparent over the entire range of 0.140µm to 7µm.  LiF crystals are optically isotropic, middle hard and insoluable in water.  However, precautions must be taken against environmental moisture at 400°C (completely softens at 600°C) and high-radiation damage sensitive to thermal shock.  Its refractive index is the lowest out of all common infrared materials.  We offer Czochralsky and Bridgman growth methods in (100) and (110) orientations. 

Asphera has a wide range of capabilities keeping degrees of orientation, dimension tolerances, surface quality and parallelism at impressive precision.  We have over ten years of experience with micro-windows 2-3mm dimensions in thickness as low as 0.5mm up to large 50-300 mm UV Single Crystal windows and specialize in technological developments of LiF. 

Materials:

low quartz, Corning 7980 0F

Orientation:

X, Z, random plane

Tolerances:

up to 0.02 mm

Surface Quality:

10/5

Parallelism:

up to 10 seconds

Ultra-Thin Alpha Quartz and Fused Silica

Quartz is a stronger material than glass and can be used up to 1050°C. Alpha quartz (or low quartz) is the name of the high crystalline type of quartz.  Low is in reference to the stable silica polymorph at low temperatures.  It has a high transmission (230nm-3000nm) and is useful for most UV applications except deep UV below 175nm when UV Fused Silica is more suitable. 

Most common applications for quartz are shock physics and sensing.  Common components are micro-optics, Brewster windows, step windows, Quarter waveplates, and polarizing prisms.  Our focus has been on Alpha Quartz and UV Fused Silica ultra-thin windows with thicknesses of 100µm, 250µm, and 500µm and diameters or squares of 2mm (±0.02mm).

Sapphire Windows

Sapphire windows are made from synthetic sapphire commonly chosen for high power laser applications because of its thermal properties and used commercially for its environmental and chemical resistance.  Sapphire's broad transmission range of 150nm to 5μm can withstand any mounting configuration and can protect any sensing device. Our experience with both micro-optic sizes of 2mm through large diameters of 4.75 inch diameter sapphire windows in a variety of materials (UV, IR, Diffuser) and shapes (circles, squares, prisms, tubes, rods) have allowed us to develop a wide range of components (IR and UV windows, step windows, wafers, waveplates, prisms).  Some other common applications for sapphire windows are: shock physics, display windows, scanner plates, IR detectors, cameras, and image projection