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Germanium (Ge)
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Germanium is a high index material that is used
to manufacture Attenuated Total reflection (ATR) prisms for spectroscopy.
Its refractive index is such that germanium makes an effective
natural 50% beamsplitter without the need for coatings. It is
also used extensively as a substrate for production of optical
filters. Germanium covers the whole of the 8-14 micron thermal
band and is used in lens systems for thermal imaging. It can be
AR coated with diamond producing an extremely tough front optic.
Its transmission is very temperature sensitive, becoming opaque
near 100°C. Environment does not cause problems because Germanium
is inert, mechanically rugged, and fairly hard.
Germanium is grown by Czochralski pulling techniques. It is relatively
expensive. The refractive index changes rapidly with temperature
and material becomes opaque at all wavelengths a little above
293K.
Maximum available size:
100 mm Dia x 50 mm Thk.
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MATERIAL
