Sapphire Cover Glass Keeps Beams Up To Snuff

Laser Research Optics has introduced a line of sapphire cover glass windows that have lower bulk absorption and, reportedly, about 30x higher thermal conductivity than quartz protection glasses. The components feature Mohs 9 hardness, which is said to be second only to diamond, and have A/R coatings on both sides to provide transmissions greater than 99.5% at 1.06 microns with greater than 80% at 650 nm to 670 nm. Reducing focus shift and the deterioration of beam quality, the sapphire windows can withstand steel splatter, flash, and debris better than fused silica.

 

Highly viable as debris shields on 1,064 nm cutting and welding lasers, the laser windows reduce the number of required lens changes on high power lasers from 4 kW and above and extend their service lifetime. Providing a 10-5 scratch-dig finish and 1/4 wave transmitted wavefront, they are available in 0.5” and 2.0” sizes. Laser Research Sapphire Fiber Laser Windows are priced according to size and quantity. Price quotations are available upon request.

 

Laser Research Optics - A Division of Meller Optics, Inc.

Providence, RI

888-239-5545

[email protected]

http://www.laserresearchoptics.net