UNIVERSAL OPTICSROORKEE · EST. 1965Request a quote

Tool · optical materials

Optical material finder

Every optical material is clear over only part of the spectrum. Start from your wavelength; the material follows.

01Wavelength finder · optical materialsUV to LWIR · log scale

Find optics for your wavelength.

Drag across 0.15–16 µm or pick a laser line. Materials that transmit it light up.

  1. 01

    Set a wavelengthDrag the cursor, use the arrow keys or pick a laser line.

  2. 02

    See what transmitsMatching materials light up; the two best fits are marked.

  3. 03

    Ask for a quoteThe wavelength and material carry into the quote form.

Wavelength

633nm

Visible · redHeNe laser

Photon energy
1.96 eV
Frequency
474 THz
Wavenumber
15,798 cm−1
Recommended material

633 nm (HeNe) : BK7-class glass or UV fused silica lenses, prisms & windows.

8of 11 materials work here

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Spectrum · log scale · drag to set

Arrow keys change the wavelength, with Shift for bigger steps. Page Up and Page Down jump between common laser lines. Home and End go to the ends of the range.

Common laser lines

  • 01SiO2

    UV fused silica

    Recommended

    0.18–2.1 µm

    UV lasers (266/355 nm), 532, 1064 nm

  • 02BK7-class

    Optical glass

    Recommended

    0.35–2.0 µm

    Visible, 532/633 nm, NIR imaging

  • 03Al2O3

    Sapphire

    Transmits

    0.17–5.5 µm

    Hard windows, harsh environments, MWIR

  • 04Calcium fluoride

    CaF2

    Transmits

    0.13–10 µm

    Excimer UV (193/248 nm), IR spectroscopy

  • 05Barium fluoride

    BaF2

    Transmits

    0.15–12 µm

    IR spectroscopy, scintillators

  • 06Magnesium fluoride

    MgF2

    Transmits

    0.12–7 µm

    VUV windows, wave plates

  • 07Si

    Silicon

    Out of range

    1.2–8 µm

    MWIR (3–5 µm) thermal imaging

  • 08Ge

    Germanium

    Out of range

    2–16 µm

    LWIR (8–12 µm) thermal imaging, night vision

  • 09Zinc selenide

    ZnSe

    Transmits

    0.6–16 µm

    CO2 laser optics (10.6 µm)

  • 10Zinc sulphide

    ZnS

    Transmits

    0.4–12 µm (multispectral)

    LWIR windows, multispectral domes

  • 11Laser gain crystal

    Nd:YAG

    Lases at 1064 nm only

    1064 nm emission

    1064 nm solid-state lasers

  • Other IR & UV materialsAll optical glass types and other crystals, cut and polished to your drawing.Ask about your spec

NoteTypical useful transmission ranges; confirm for your thickness and coating.

02Reference · typical values11 materials

Materials at a glance.

Typical useful transmission ranges for uncoated material. Confirm for your thickness and coating.

Optical materials: typical useful transmission range, typical lasers and uses, and notes
MaterialTypical useful rangeTypical lasers & usesNotes
UV fused silicaSiO20.18–2.1 µmUV lasers (266/355 nm), 532, 1064 nmUV-grade synthetic silica: low thermal expansion, high laser-damage threshold.
Optical glassBK7-class0.35–2.0 µmVisible, 532/633 nm, NIR imagingCrown glass is the workhorse for visible and NIR; flint glasses pair with it in achromats.
SapphireAl2O30.17–5.5 µmHard windows, harsh environments, MWIRVery hard and scratch resistant; birefringent, so crystal orientation matters.
CaF2Calcium fluoride0.13–10 µmExcimer UV (193/248 nm), IR spectroscopyLow dispersion, from deep UV to mid-IR in one crystal.
BaF2Barium fluoride0.15–12 µmIR spectroscopy, scintillatorsReaches further into the LWIR than CaF₂; keep it dry and avoid thermal shock.
MgF2Magnesium fluoride0.12–7 µmVUV windows, wave platesBirefringent crystal that transmits down into the vacuum UV.
SiliconSi1.2–8 µmMWIR (3–5 µm) thermal imagingLight and thermally conductive; opaque to visible light.
GermaniumGe2–16 µmLWIR (8–12 µm) thermal imaging, night visionVery high index (n ≈ 4), so it is almost always AR-coated; looks like polished metal.
ZnSeZinc selenide0.6–16 µmCO2 laser optics (10.6 µm)Low absorption at 10.6 µm, and it passes a red alignment beam too.
ZnSZinc sulphide0.4–12 µm (multispectral)LWIR windows, multispectral domesMultispectral grade covers visible to LWIR in one window.
Nd:YAGLaser gain crystal1064 nm emission1064 nm solid-state lasersNot a window material: the gain medium inside 1064 nm solid-state lasers.

Laser lines on the scale

  • 193 nmArF excimer
  • 248 nmKrF excimer
  • 266 nmNd:YAG 4H
  • 355 nmNd:YAG 3H
  • 405 nmDiode
  • 532 nmNd:YAG 2H
  • 633 nmHeNe
  • 808 nmDiode
  • 1064 nmNd:YAG / fiber
  • 1550 nmTelecom
  • 2.94 µmEr:YAG
  • 10.6 µmCO2

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