1. Infrared Optical Materials Mark Burgener 5 December 2016

2. Transmission Material
Germanium (Ge)
Silicon
MWIR or LWIR
SWIR though MWIR
Hard and dense
Magnesium Fluoride
Slightly radioactive
Durable
Good transmission
Index of refraction function of temperature
AR coating
Sodium Chloride
<100°C
Water soluble
Higher index of refraction
Potassium Bromide
Zinc Sulfide (ZnS)
a.k.a. Cleartran
Calcium Fluoride
Strong
Broadband
Zinc Selenide (ZnSe)
More uniform = better quality
One system ZnSe window with ZnS coating

3. Transmission Material
Sapphire
Aluminum Oxynitride (ALON)
Strong and hard
Ceramic material
Applications for
Cubic structure
Single manufacturer
High abrasion
High temperature
UV through MWIR
High pressure
MWIR degrades stating at 4.2µm
Visible though MWIR
Spinel
High Cost
Diamond
All bands
Good for high temperature applications
MWIR degrades stating at 4.8µm
Manufacturing