Materials
UV glass
Borosilicate glass, known for its durability and chemical resistance, is enhanced by adding boron trioxide to silicate glass, reducing synthesis temperature and slightly boosting the refractive index. Famous for its use in laboratory glassware like Pyrex and optical elements like BK7 glass, borosilicate offers low dispersion and high thermal shock resistance, making it ideal for a wide range of applications.
PBG glass
Gallium-bismuth-lead-silicate glass, known as PBG81, represents a cutting-edge material in photonics, characterized by its exceptionally high refractive index, making it one of the glasses with the highest refractive indices available, only surpassed by tellurite and chalcogenide glasses. Its standout feature is a remarkably high nonlinear refractive index, coupled with robust thermal stability that withstands repeated thermal processing. The unique characteristics of PBG81 make it an ideal candidate for fabricating photonic fibers designed for supercontinuum generation. It opens up remarkable opportunities for advancements in optical technologies due to its superior light confinement and nonlinear effects.
ZBLAN glass
ZBLAN glass, a fluoride-based glass primarily composed of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, aluminum, and sodium, stands out in the photonics industry for its exceptional transmission window that extends from the visible deep into the mid-infrared spectrum. The wide transmission range, coupled with its low phonon energy, makes ZBLAN an ideal medium for high-power laser applications, fiber lasers, and optical fiber amplifiers, especially in wavelengths where traditional silica fibers fall short. ZBLAN glass unique properties also minimize losses due to scattering and absorption, enhancing efficiency in fiber optic communication systems and infrared imaging technologies