Windows are optical glass normally with polished faces that are relatively parallel. They are used to protect laser output. Windows are often AR coated to minimize reflection. AR coated windows offer improved transmission when used in industrial displays or computer monitors. The high transmission makes them ideal for most industrial and laser protecting applications.
Brewster Windows
Brewster windows are windows designed for use at Brewster's angle (usually uncoated). This is the angle where only incident p-polarized light has 0% transmission loss. They are an economical option for coupling linearly polarized light into sealed optical systems and to select the polarization of light traveling in optical cavities.
Brewster's angle can be calculated using the following equation: Brewster's angle =Arctan(nw/na)
Where nw and na are the indices of refraction for the window and the ambient respectively. na is usually assumed to be 1 for air.
Materials | BK7, UVFS, FS, CaF2, MgF2, BaF2, ZnSe, ZnS, Ge, Si, Sapphire, Cleartran, Infrasil, Suprasil |
Angle of Incidence | Brewster's Angle |
Surface Figure | 1/4 lambda at 633 nm of Both Surfaces |
Surface Quality | 20-10 or better of Both Surfaces |
Dimensional Tolerance | (+) 0.0 to 0.01mm |
Thickness Tolerance | (+/-) 0.01mm |
Wedge | Brewster less than 10 seconds, Elliptical less than 3 minutes |
Bevels | 0.02" at 45 degree typical |
Clear Aperture | Exceeds Central 85% of diameter |
Square and Round Window
Material | BK7 Grade A optical glass |
Dimensional Tolerance | (+) 0.0 to -0.2mm |
Thickness Tolerance | (+/-) 0.2mm |
Clear Aperture | >80% |
Parallelism | 1 arc minute for standard; 10 arc seconds for high precision. |
Surface Quality | 60/40 for standard; 20/10 for high precision |
Wavefront Distortion | 1 lambda for standard per 25mm@633nm; 1/10 lambda for precision per 25mm@633nm. |
Chamfer | Protected <0.5mm x 45 degree |
Coating | Uncoated, available |
Fused Silica Windows
Material | BK7 Grade A optical glass |
Dimensional Tolerance | (+) 0.0 to -0.2mm |
Thickness Tolerance | (+/-) 0.2mm |
Clear Aperture | >80% |
Parallelism | 1 arc minute for standard; 10 arc seconds for high precision. |
Surface Quality | 60/40 for standard; 20/10 for high precision |
Wavefront Distortion | 1 lambda for standard per 25mm@633nm; 1/10 lambda for precision per 25mm@633nm. |
Chamfer | Protected <0.5mm x 45 degree |
Coating | Uncoated, available |