ZnS Optics0 pages

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High Damage Threshold, ZnS Optics for Mid-IR Lasers
These ZnS or CLEARTRAN™ optics deliver higher laser damage threshold, better
spectral performance, improved environmental stability and greater mechanical
durability over anything previously available. They are specifically intended for use
with Ho:YAG pumped optical parametric oscillators (OPO’s) and other laser systems
operating in the 2 µm to 5 µm spectral range. The substrates are precision ground
and polished and then coated using ion beam sputtering (IBS) technology. The IBS
process yields fully densified thin films which are virtually impervious to water
absorption and, thus, extremely stable. These characteristics make them particularly
well suited for demanding applications such as IR countermeasures, laser
designating/rangefinding, atmospheric sensing, and small molecule spectroscopy.
This series of ZnS optics includes both flat and radiused components with substrates
ranging from 5 mm to 150 mm in diameter. They all feature high surface accuracy
(λ/10 at 632.8 nm) and excellent surface quality (20-10), and are offered with a wide
range of antireflection, high reflection and multi-spectral coating options. The laser
damage threshold of the antireflection bands of these coatings has been measured
to be >8 J/cm2 (at 2.05 µm in a 75 nsec pulse), while high reflection bands have
demonstrated a damage resistance of >50 J/cm2 (for the same pulse specifications).

Typical Multi-Wavelength Optics Specifications
Materials

ZnS, CLEARTRAN™

Typical Wavelengths of Operation

2 µm – 5 µm

Surface flatness

λ/10 @ 633 nm

Coating types

High reflection, antireflection,
multi-spectral, beamsplitter,
polarizing

Damage threshold
- High reflection coating

>50 J/cm2 (at 2.05 µm in a
75 nsec pulse)

- Antireflection coating

>8 J/cm2 (at 2.05 µm in a
75 nsec pulse)

Temperature range

−196 °C to 400 °C

Humidity range

0 to 100%

Size range (length)

15 mm to 150 mm

Surface Quality

20-10

Clear Aperture

90%

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