Product Code: ICA10_102

Comparison Of 1 Micron Transmissive Optical Materials For High Power Lasers
Authors:
Stephen Rummel, II-VI Incorporated; Saxonburg PA USA
Gary Herrit, II-VI Incorporated; Saxonburg PA USA
Alan Hedges, II-Vi Incorporated; Saxonburg PA USA
Presented at ICALEO 2010

With the advent of very high power fiber and disk lasers, choosing the right optical material for the application is vitally important. The best optic for an application is determined by a combination of factors about the application itself and the optic material properties. Important application factors include the laser power, laser type, and the users application. Material properties that the designer must consider in the selection of optical materials are the fundamental optical, thermal, and mechanical properties as well as the manufacturability and cost of purchasing the optics. While the main focus of this paper will be on various properties of the available optical materials and the relative cost of manufacturing, we will also discuss some of the general laser and application factors. As part of the discussion of the material properties we will present a figure of merit calculation for optical materials that can be used to determine the suitability of an optic for an application. We will discuss the use of Fused Silica, ZnS MultiSpectral, and ZnSe for lenses and windows. Finally, we will present some novel optic examples that can be diamond turned for special beam shaping applications such as heat treating, cladding, and welding.