Materials for high-energy laser windows: oxyfluoride glass vs. fusion-cast CaF2

Claude A. Klein

doi:10.1117/12.603242

18 May 2005 Materials for high-energy laser windows: oxyfluoride glass vs. fusion-cast CaF₂

Claude A. Klein

Proceedings Volume 5786, Window and Dome Technologies and Materials IX; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.603242
Event: Defense and Security, 2005, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

The process of selecting suitable materials for high-energy laser windows involves considerations realting to (a) the flexural strength, (b) the thermal stresses, and (c) the optical distortion. Optical distortion ocnsiderations strongly favor low-absorbtion materials ythat exhibit a negitive thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dT) in conjunction with minimal stress-birefringence (q&dverline; -q⊥ ≃0). For this reason, calcium floride has been the primary candidate for many years, but the efforts to strengthen this material have not been successful. Recently, a new glass compostion-oxyfloride glass (OFG)-has been promoted as an ideal solution in the sense that it will allow fabricating large "athermal" windows for operation at the chemical oxygen-iodine laser wavelength. It is, therefore, of interest to properly assess the merits of OFG in comparison to CaF₂, which we do here on the basis of available (Dec '04) property data for fusion-cast CaF₂ and OFG. Oxyfloride glass was found to be deficient in regard to thermal diffusivity, which may lead to excessive coating-induced compressive stresses, and stress- birefringence, which rules out creating a distortion-free window. It is suggested that future efforts should be directed at strengthening CaF₂ in view of this material's exceptionally low absorbtion and almost no stress-birefringence

Citation Download Citation

Claude A. Klein "Materials for high-energy laser windows: oxyfluoride glass vs. fusion-cast CaF₂", Proc. SPIE 5786, Window and Dome Technologies and Materials IX, (18 May 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.603242

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