SEDL / STP / STP759-EB / STP37005S

Material Property Requirements for Laser Windows

Glassman, AT
Avionics Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio

Pages: 15    Published: Oct 1981

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Abstract

Systems designers and theoreticians require reliable matrial properties—the designer to make informed selections of window materials, and the theoretician as input to his performance models and figure of merit calculations. The information is not always available, however, because (a) some measurements are difficult to make and exist for only a few selected materials; (b) stable lasers have not been readily available for use in making measurements, etc. at all wavelengths of interest. This paper indicates some gaps in material properties relevant to windows and gives directions for future experimental work, based on a literature search to compile data on candidate materials for infrared windows.

The types of gaps in material properties are illustrated by constructing a three-dimensional matrix of values, pointing out areas for future work. Data availability for many materials of interest is given.

Material properties for materials of interest are tabulated.