ZnS (Zinc Sulphide Multispectral, CVD)
ZnS Multispectral (water-clear) is used for IR windows and lenses in the thermal band (8 to 14 μm) where maximum transmission and lowest absorption is required. Also selected for use where visible alignment is an advantage.
ZnSe (Zinc Selenide)
ZnSe is used widely for IR components, windows and lenses, and for spectroscopic ATR prisms. Zinc Selenide is one of the materials of choice for CO2 laser optics operating at 10.6 microns.
Chalcogenide Glass
Along with the development of LWIR Thermal Imaging configured with Uncooled FPA detectors, lenses made from Chalcogenide glass are emerging as a major role in an extensive range of industries and domains, including gunsight, missiles surveillance, security, etc. The properties, data sheets, the cross-reference chart, and uses of Chalcogenide Glass are given in the article from Shalom EO.
Optical Substrate Material Selection Guide
The selection of optical substrate material is a vital step to determine the best appropriate optics for your individual applications. The characteristics(optical transmission, refractive index, hardness, etc.) of representative optical materials such as N-BK7, UV Fused Silica, Zerodur Glass, Chalcogenide Glass, BaF2, CaF2, MgF2, Germanium, Zinc Selenide, ZnS, Sapphire, Silicon, alpha-bbo, calcite, YVO4, and F2 glass are introduced and compared in this article from Shalom.
NaI(Tl) Scintillators for Well-logging Applications
This article introduces the material properties and the working principles of NaI(Tl)/Thallium Doped Sodium Iodide Scintillators for well-logging applications.
BBO Crystals Supporting the Research of Quantum Entanglements
This article describes the intricacies of quantum entanglements, the application of Bell inequalities, and the crucial role played by Beta Barium Borate (BBO) crystals in the phenomenon of Spontaneous Parametric Down-Conversion (SPDC).
KTA Crystals for Optical Parametric Oscillation
In this article, we discuss the distinctive features of KTA crystals, their application in optical parametric oscillation, and a comparative analysis with Potassium Titanyl Phosphate (KTP) crystals.
Optical Basics: The Nature of Light and Optical Elements
This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of essential Optical Basics, ranging from the nature of light (including wavelength, the electromagnetic spectrum, phase and amplitude, the wave-particle duality of light, to reflection, refraction, birefringence, and interference) to the operation principle of optical elements.
Nd:YVO4
Nd:YVO4 is an important material in laser technology. Nd: YVO4 refers to neodymium (Nd) doped into yttrium orthovanadate (YVO4) crystal, forming a composite material with excellent optical properties. This material is widely used in laser technology, particularly in solid-state lasers.
Understanding Optical Specifications-Geometric Specifications
A guide that helps understand the glossaries of optical specifications including thickness diameter tolerance, angle tolerance, center error, radius of curvature, clear aperture, parallelism, etc.