Sapphire Windows


  • Uncoated Windows for 200 nm - 4.5 µm
  • AR-Coated Windows for 1.65 µm - 3.0 µm or 2.0 µm - 5.0 µm
  • Ø1/2" and Ø1" Sizes Available

WG31050

Uncoated

WG30530

Uncoated

WG31050-D

Coated for 1.65 - 3 µm

WG30530-D

Coated for
1.65 - 3 µm

WG31050-E1

Coated for 2 - 5 µm

Related Items


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Flat Window Selection Guide
Wavelength Range Substrate Material
180 nm - 8.0 μm Calcium Fluoride (CaF2)
185 nm - 2.1 μm UV Fused Silica
200 nm - 5.0 μm Sapphire
200 nm - 6.0 μm Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2)
220 nm to >50 µm CVD Diamond Windows
230 nm - 1.1 µm UV Fused Silica,
Textured Antireflective Surface
250 nm - 1.6 µm UV Fused Silica, for 45° AOI
250 nm - 26 µm Potassium Bromide (KBr)
300 nm - 3 µm Infrasil®
350 nm - 2.0 μm N-BK7
600 nm - 16 µm Zinc Selenide (ZnSe)
1 - 1.7 µm Infrasil®,
Textured Antireflective Surface
1.2 - 8.0 μm Silicon (Si)
1.9 - 16 μm Germanium (Ge)
2 - 5 μm Barium Fluoride (BaF2)
V-Coated Laser Windows

Features

  • Ø1/2" and Ø1" Versions Offered
  • Uncoated Wavelength Range: 200 nm - 4.5 µm
  • Available with AR Coating for 1.65 µm - 3.0 µm or 2.0 µm - 5.0 µm on Both Sides
  • Stable Performance over a Wide Temperature Range

Our Sapphire Precision Windows are available in 1/2" and 1" diameters. The uncoated versions are designed for applications in the 150 nm - 4.5 μm range. AR-coated windows feature anti-reflective coatings designed for 1.65 µm - 3.0 µm (-D) or 2.0 µm - 5.0 µm (-E1) on both sides. Performance graphs are shown below. Each window is engraved with its item number to aid with identification.

Uncoated sapphire provides exceptional surface hardness and a transmission range extending from the UV to the MIR. It can only be scratched by a few materials other than itself. The uncoated substrate is chemically inert and insoluble to water, common acids, or alkalis at temperatures up to ~1,000 °C. Our sapphire windows are z-cut so that the c-axis of the crystal is parallel with the optical axis, removing birefringence effects on transmitted light.

Thorlabs also offers precision windows fabricated from several other substrates for use in a large variety of laser and industrial applications. For our complete selection, see the Flat Window Selection Guide table to the right. We also offer laser windows, which have AR coatings centered around commonly used laser wavelengths, and Brewster windows, which are designed to eliminate P-polarization reflectance.

Optical Coatings Guide
Optic Cleaning Tutorial

Uncoated Sapphire Window

Transmission of Uncoated Sapphire
Click to Enlarge

Click for Raw Data
This graph shows the measured transmission of an uncoated sapphire window at normal incidence.

Sapphire Window, AR Coated for 1.65 - 3 µm

AR-Coated Sapphire Transmission
Click to Enlarge

Click for Raw Data
This plot gives the measured total transmission at normal incidence of our 5 mm thick, AR-coated sapphire window for 1.65 - 3.0 µm. The shaded region indicates the specified coating range. Water molecules within the AR coating cause the absorption seen near 2.7 µm. This coating was chosen because other coatings use hazardous materials or give worse spectral performance.
AR-Coated Sapphire Reflectance
Click to Enlarge

Click for Raw Data
This plot gives the measured reflectance (per surface) at normal incidence of our 5 mm thick, AR-coated sapphire window for 1.65 - 3.0 µm. The average reflectance is <1.0% per surface within the shaded wavelength range of 1.65 µm - 3.0 µm.

Sapphire Window, AR Coated for 2 - 5 µm

AR-Coated Sapphire Transmission
Click to Enlarge

Click for Raw Data
This plot gives the measured total transmission at normal incidence of our 5 mm thick, AR-coated sapphire window for 2.0 - 5.0 µm. The shaded region indicates the specified coating range. Water molecules within the AR coating cause the absorption seen near 2.7 µm. This coating was chosen because other coatings use hazardous materials or give worse spectral performance.
AR-Coated Sapphire Reflectance
Click to Enlarge

Click for Raw Data
This plot gives the measured reflectance (per surface) at normal incidence of our 5 mm thick, AR-coated sapphire window for 2.0 - 5.0 µm. The average reflectance is <1.5% per surface within the shaded wavelength range of 2.0 - 5.0 µm.
Damage Threshold Specifications
Item # Damage Threshold
WG30530-D
WG31530-D
2.00 J/cm2 (2050 nm, 62.5 Hz, 10 ns, Ø339 µm)
WG30530-E1
WG31050-E1
200 J/cm2 (2940 nm, 200 µs, 2 Hz, Ø0.102 mm)

Damage Threshold Data for Thorlabs' Sapphire Windows

The specifications to the right are measured data for a selection of Thorlabs' sapphire windows. Damage threshold specifications are constant for these windows, regardless of the size.

 

Laser Induced Damage Threshold Tutorial

The following is a general overview of how laser induced damage thresholds are measured and how the values may be utilized in determining the appropriateness of an optic for a given application. When choosing optics, it is important to understand the Laser Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) of the optics being used. The LIDT for an optic greatly depends on the type of laser you are using. Continuous wave (CW) lasers typically cause damage from thermal effects (absorption either in the coating or in the substrate). Pulsed lasers, on the other hand, often strip electrons from the lattice structure of an optic before causing thermal damage. Note that the guideline presented here assumes room temperature operation and optics in new condition (i.e., within scratch-dig spec, surface free of contamination, etc.). Because dust or other particles on the surface of an optic can cause damage at lower thresholds, we recommend keeping surfaces clean and free of debris. For more information on cleaning optics, please see our Optics Cleaning tutorial.

Testing Method

Thorlabs' LIDT testing is done in compliance with ISO/DIS 11254 and ISO 21254 specifications.

First, a low-power/energy beam is directed to the optic under test. The optic is exposed in 10 locations to this laser beam for 30 seconds (CW) or for a number of pulses (pulse repetition frequency specified). After exposure, the optic is examined by a microscope (~100X magnification) for any visible damage. The number of locations that are damaged at a particular power/energy level is recorded. Next, the power/energy is either increased or decreased and the optic is exposed at 10 new locations. This process is repeated until damage is observed. The damage threshold is then assigned to be the highest power/energy that the optic can withstand without causing damage. A histogram such as that below represents the testing of one BB1-E02 mirror.

LIDT metallic mirror
The photograph above is a protected aluminum-coated mirror after LIDT testing. In this particular test, it handled 0.43 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns pulse, 10 Hz, Ø1.000 mm) before damage.
LIDT BB1-E02
Example Test Data
Fluence # of Tested Locations Locations with Damage Locations Without Damage
1.50 J/cm2 10 0 10
1.75 J/cm2 10 0 10
2.00 J/cm2 10 0 10
2.25 J/cm2 10 1 9
3.00 J/cm2 10 1 9
5.00 J/cm2 10 9 1

According to the test, the damage threshold of the mirror was 2.00 J/cm2 (532 nm, 10 ns pulse, 10 Hz, Ø0.803 mm). Please keep in mind that these tests are performed on clean optics, as dirt and contamination can significantly lower the damage threshold of a component. While the test results are only representative of one coating run, Thorlabs specifies damage threshold values that account for coating variances.

Continuous Wave and Long-Pulse Lasers

When an optic is damaged by a continuous wave (CW) laser, it is usually due to the melting of the surface as a result of absorbing the laser's energy or damage to the optical coating (antireflection) [1]. Pulsed lasers with pulse lengths longer than 1 µs can be treated as CW lasers for LIDT discussions.

When pulse lengths are between 1 ns and 1 µs, laser-induced damage can occur either because of absorption or a dielectric breakdown (therefore, a user must check both CW and pulsed LIDT). Absorption is either due to an intrinsic property of the optic or due to surface irregularities; thus LIDT values are only valid for optics meeting or exceeding the surface quality specifications given by a manufacturer. While many optics can handle high power CW lasers, cemented (e.g., achromatic doublets) or highly absorptive (e.g., ND filters) optics tend to have lower CW damage thresholds. These lower thresholds are due to absorption or scattering in the cement or metal coating.

Linear Power Density Scaling

LIDT in linear power density vs. pulse length and spot size. For long pulses to CW, linear power density becomes a constant with spot size. This graph was obtained from [1].

Intensity Distribution

Pulsed lasers with high pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) may behave similarly to CW beams. Unfortunately, this is highly dependent on factors such as absorption and thermal diffusivity, so there is no reliable method for determining when a high PRF laser will damage an optic due to thermal effects. For beams with a high PRF both the average and peak powers must be compared to the equivalent CW power. Additionally, for highly transparent materials, there is little to no drop in the LIDT with increasing PRF.

In order to use the specified CW damage threshold of an optic, it is necessary to know the following:

  1. Wavelength of your laser
  2. Beam diameter of your beam (1/e2)
  3. Approximate intensity profile of your beam (e.g., Gaussian)
  4. Linear power density of your beam (total power divided by 1/e2 beam diameter)

Thorlabs expresses LIDT for CW lasers as a linear power density measured in W/cm. In this regime, the LIDT given as a linear power density can be applied to any beam diameter; one does not need to compute an adjusted LIDT to adjust for changes in spot size, as demonstrated by the graph to the right. Average linear power density can be calculated using the equation below. 

The calculation above assumes a uniform beam intensity profile. You must now consider hotspots in the beam or other non-uniform intensity profiles and roughly calculate a maximum power density. For reference, a Gaussian beam typically has a maximum power density that is twice that of the uniform beam (see lower right).

Now compare the maximum power density to that which is specified as the LIDT for the optic. If the optic was tested at a wavelength other than your operating wavelength, the damage threshold must be scaled appropriately. A good rule of thumb is that the damage threshold has a linear relationship with wavelength such that as you move to shorter wavelengths, the damage threshold decreases (i.e., a LIDT of 10 W/cm at 1310 nm scales to 5 W/cm at 655 nm):

CW Wavelength Scaling

While this rule of thumb provides a general trend, it is not a quantitative analysis of LIDT vs wavelength. In CW applications, for instance, damage scales more strongly with absorption in the coating and substrate, which does not necessarily scale well with wavelength. While the above procedure provides a good rule of thumb for LIDT values, please contact Tech Support if your wavelength is different from the specified LIDT wavelength. If your power density is less than the adjusted LIDT of the optic, then the optic should work for your application. 

Please note that we have a buffer built in between the specified damage thresholds online and the tests which we have done, which accommodates variation between batches. Upon request, we can provide individual test information and a testing certificate. The damage analysis will be carried out on a similar optic (customer's optic will not be damaged). Testing may result in additional costs or lead times. Contact Tech Support for more information.

Pulsed Lasers

As previously stated, pulsed lasers typically induce a different type of damage to the optic than CW lasers. Pulsed lasers often do not heat the optic enough to damage it; instead, pulsed lasers produce strong electric fields capable of inducing dielectric breakdown in the material. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to compare the LIDT specification of an optic to your laser. There are multiple regimes in which a pulsed laser can damage an optic and this is based on the laser's pulse length. The highlighted columns in the table below outline the relevant pulse lengths for our specified LIDT values.

Pulses shorter than 10-9 s cannot be compared to our specified LIDT values with much reliability. In this ultra-short-pulse regime various mechanics, such as multiphoton-avalanche ionization, take over as the predominate damage mechanism [2]. In contrast, pulses between 10-7 s and 10-4 s may cause damage to an optic either because of dielectric breakdown or thermal effects. This means that both CW and pulsed damage thresholds must be compared to the laser beam to determine whether the optic is suitable for your application.

Pulse Duration t < 10-9 s 10-9 < t < 10-7 s 10-7 < t < 10-4 s t > 10-4 s
Damage Mechanism Avalanche Ionization Dielectric Breakdown Dielectric Breakdown or Thermal Thermal
Relevant Damage Specification No Comparison (See Above) Pulsed Pulsed and CW CW

When comparing an LIDT specified for a pulsed laser to your laser, it is essential to know the following:

Energy Density Scaling

LIDT in energy density vs. pulse length and spot size. For short pulses, energy density becomes a constant with spot size. This graph was obtained from [1].

  1. Wavelength of your laser
  2. Energy density of your beam (total energy divided by 1/e2 area)
  3. Pulse length of your laser
  4. Pulse repetition frequency (prf) of your laser
  5. Beam diameter of your laser (1/e2 )
  6. Approximate intensity profile of your beam (e.g., Gaussian)

The energy density of your beam should be calculated in terms of J/cm2. The graph to the right shows why expressing the LIDT as an energy density provides the best metric for short pulse sources. In this regime, the LIDT given as an energy density can be applied to any beam diameter; one does not need to compute an adjusted LIDT to adjust for changes in spot size. This calculation assumes a uniform beam intensity profile. You must now adjust this energy density to account for hotspots or other nonuniform intensity profiles and roughly calculate a maximum energy density. For reference a Gaussian beam typically has a maximum energy density that is twice that of the 1/e2 beam.

Now compare the maximum energy density to that which is specified as the LIDT for the optic. If the optic was tested at a wavelength other than your operating wavelength, the damage threshold must be scaled appropriately [3]. A good rule of thumb is that the damage threshold has an inverse square root relationship with wavelength such that as you move to shorter wavelengths, the damage threshold decreases (i.e., a LIDT of 1 J/cm2 at 1064 nm scales to 0.7 J/cm2 at 532 nm):

Pulse Wavelength Scaling

You now have a wavelength-adjusted energy density, which you will use in the following step.

Beam diameter is also important to know when comparing damage thresholds. While the LIDT, when expressed in units of J/cm², scales independently of spot size; large beam sizes are more likely to illuminate a larger number of defects which can lead to greater variances in the LIDT [4]. For data presented here, a <1 mm beam size was used to measure the LIDT. For beams sizes greater than 5 mm, the LIDT (J/cm2) will not scale independently of beam diameter due to the larger size beam exposing more defects.

The pulse length must now be compensated for. The longer the pulse duration, the more energy the optic can handle. For pulse widths between 1 - 100 ns, an approximation is as follows:

Pulse Length Scaling

Use this formula to calculate the Adjusted LIDT for an optic based on your pulse length. If your maximum energy density is less than this adjusted LIDT maximum energy density, then the optic should be suitable for your application. Keep in mind that this calculation is only used for pulses between 10-9 s and 10-7 s. For pulses between 10-7 s and 10-4 s, the CW LIDT must also be checked before deeming the optic appropriate for your application.

Please note that we have a buffer built in between the specified damage thresholds online and the tests which we have done, which accommodates variation between batches. Upon request, we can provide individual test information and a testing certificate. Contact Tech Support for more information.


[1] R. M. Wood, Optics and Laser Tech. 29, 517 (1998).
[2] Roger M. Wood, Laser-Induced Damage of Optical Materials (Institute of Physics Publishing, Philadelphia, PA, 2003).
[3] C. W. Carr et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 127402 (2003).
[4] N. Bloembergen, Appl. Opt. 12, 661 (1973).

In order to illustrate the process of determining whether a given laser system will damage an optic, a number of example calculations of laser induced damage threshold are given below. For assistance with performing similar calculations, we provide a spreadsheet calculator that can be downloaded by clicking the button to the right. To use the calculator, enter the specified LIDT value of the optic under consideration and the relevant parameters of your laser system in the green boxes. The spreadsheet will then calculate a linear power density for CW and pulsed systems, as well as an energy density value for pulsed systems. These values are used to calculate adjusted, scaled LIDT values for the optics based on accepted scaling laws. This calculator assumes a Gaussian beam profile, so a correction factor must be introduced for other beam shapes (uniform, etc.). The LIDT scaling laws are determined from empirical relationships; their accuracy is not guaranteed. Remember that absorption by optics or coatings can significantly reduce LIDT in some spectral regions. These LIDT values are not valid for ultrashort pulses less than one nanosecond in duration.

Intensity Distribution
A Gaussian beam profile has about twice the maximum intensity of a uniform beam profile.

CW Laser Example
Suppose that a CW laser system at 1319 nm produces a 0.5 W Gaussian beam that has a 1/e2 diameter of 10 mm. A naive calculation of the average linear power density of this beam would yield a value of 0.5 W/cm, given by the total power divided by the beam diameter:

CW Wavelength Scaling

However, the maximum power density of a Gaussian beam is about twice the maximum power density of a uniform beam, as shown in the graph to the right. Therefore, a more accurate determination of the maximum linear power density of the system is 1 W/cm.

An AC127-030-C achromatic doublet lens has a specified CW LIDT of 350 W/cm, as tested at 1550 nm. CW damage threshold values typically scale directly with the wavelength of the laser source, so this yields an adjusted LIDT value:

CW Wavelength Scaling

The adjusted LIDT value of 350 W/cm x (1319 nm / 1550 nm) = 298 W/cm is significantly higher than the calculated maximum linear power density of the laser system, so it would be safe to use this doublet lens for this application.

Pulsed Nanosecond Laser Example: Scaling for Different Pulse Durations
Suppose that a pulsed Nd:YAG laser system is frequency tripled to produce a 10 Hz output, consisting of 2 ns output pulses at 355 nm, each with 1 J of energy, in a Gaussian beam with a 1.9 cm beam diameter (1/e2). The average energy density of each pulse is found by dividing the pulse energy by the beam area:

Pulse Energy Density

As described above, the maximum energy density of a Gaussian beam is about twice the average energy density. So, the maximum energy density of this beam is ~0.7 J/cm2.

The energy density of the beam can be compared to the LIDT values of 1 J/cm2 and 3.5 J/cm2 for a BB1-E01 broadband dielectric mirror and an NB1-K08 Nd:YAG laser line mirror, respectively. Both of these LIDT values, while measured at 355 nm, were determined with a 10 ns pulsed laser at 10 Hz. Therefore, an adjustment must be applied for the shorter pulse duration of the system under consideration. As described on the previous tab, LIDT values in the nanosecond pulse regime scale with the square root of the laser pulse duration:

Pulse Length Scaling

This adjustment factor results in LIDT values of 0.45 J/cm2 for the BB1-E01 broadband mirror and 1.6 J/cm2 for the Nd:YAG laser line mirror, which are to be compared with the 0.7 J/cm2 maximum energy density of the beam. While the broadband mirror would likely be damaged by the laser, the more specialized laser line mirror is appropriate for use with this system.

Pulsed Nanosecond Laser Example: Scaling for Different Wavelengths
Suppose that a pulsed laser system emits 10 ns pulses at 2.5 Hz, each with 100 mJ of energy at 1064 nm in a 16 mm diameter beam (1/e2) that must be attenuated with a neutral density filter. For a Gaussian output, these specifications result in a maximum energy density of 0.1 J/cm2. The damage threshold of an NDUV10A Ø25 mm, OD 1.0, reflective neutral density filter is 0.05 J/cm2 for 10 ns pulses at 355 nm, while the damage threshold of the similar NE10A absorptive filter is 10 J/cm2 for 10 ns pulses at 532 nm. As described on the previous tab, the LIDT value of an optic scales with the square root of the wavelength in the nanosecond pulse regime:

Pulse Wavelength Scaling

This scaling gives adjusted LIDT values of 0.08 J/cm2 for the reflective filter and 14 J/cm2 for the absorptive filter. In this case, the absorptive filter is the best choice in order to avoid optical damage.

Pulsed Microsecond Laser Example
Consider a laser system that produces 1 µs pulses, each containing 150 µJ of energy at a repetition rate of 50 kHz, resulting in a relatively high duty cycle of 5%. This system falls somewhere between the regimes of CW and pulsed laser induced damage, and could potentially damage an optic by mechanisms associated with either regime. As a result, both CW and pulsed LIDT values must be compared to the properties of the laser system to ensure safe operation.

If this relatively long-pulse laser emits a Gaussian 12.7 mm diameter beam (1/e2) at 980 nm, then the resulting output has a linear power density of 5.9 W/cm and an energy density of 1.2 x 10-4 J/cm2 per pulse. This can be compared to the LIDT values for a WPQ10E-980 polymer zero-order quarter-wave plate, which are 5 W/cm for CW radiation at 810 nm and 5 J/cm2 for a 10 ns pulse at 810 nm. As before, the CW LIDT of the optic scales linearly with the laser wavelength, resulting in an adjusted CW value of 6 W/cm at 980 nm. On the other hand, the pulsed LIDT scales with the square root of the laser wavelength and the square root of the pulse duration, resulting in an adjusted value of 55 J/cm2 for a 1 µs pulse at 980 nm. The pulsed LIDT of the optic is significantly greater than the energy density of the laser pulse, so individual pulses will not damage the wave plate. However, the large average linear power density of the laser system may cause thermal damage to the optic, much like a high-power CW beam.


Posted Comments:
Neel Shah  (posted 2024-09-16 16:06:35.447)
Would it be possible to have a Broadband AR coating (350-700nm) applied to these like what is offered for the UV fused silica windows?
jdelia  (posted 2024-09-17 01:59:27.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I have reached out to you directly via email to discuss the feasibility of this custom request, as well as your application and whether it would be possible to utilize one of our in-stock alternatives.
Frank Peters  (posted 2023-07-26 16:27:17.13)
Does your sapphire show fluorescence when excited by UV light (230-400 nm)?
cdolbashian  (posted 2023-08-04 12:38:59.0)
Thank you for reaching out to us Frank. Unfortunately we do not have fluorescence test data. It is likely that this window would exhibit some sort of fluorescence when exposed to this deep UV light source.
Guangzhen Shen  (posted 2021-05-28 21:10:21.273)
Can the crystal windows turn 1030nm 210fs laser into white light?
YLohia  (posted 2021-06-04 02:49:10.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. While this is not an application that we have prior experience with or support (and, thus, is not something that we can guarantee), there are some recent papers on this matter (https://arxiv.org/pdf/1706.04356.pdf and https://www.lmaleidykla.lt/ojs/index.php/physics/article/view/3101/1928) that you can refer to, which do imply that this is possible.
Yoshinori Matsumoto  (posted 2020-10-01 17:09:06.57)
Please tell me the refractive index of WG31050.
YLohia  (posted 2020-10-01 10:29:09.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Refractive index information for sapphire can be found on this page: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=6973&tabname=Sapphire
Carlos Eduardo Mendes  (posted 2020-03-19 12:16:41.933)
Hello, The group Carnauba is looking for windows to use in the beamline at Sirius. Although the windows must be in the specification as follows: diameter: 32 mm thickness: (0.63 mm to 5 mm) It is possible to develop and sold for us in this specification? If, Positive, could you send a quote (could it be thickness: 0.63,1,2,3,4,5 [mm])? Sincerely, Carlos Eduardo
YLohia  (posted 2020-03-19 12:41:54.0)
Hello Carlos, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Custom optics can be requested by emailing your local Thorlabs Tech Support group (in your case techsupport.br@thorlabs.com). We will reach out to you directly to discuss this further.
user  (posted 2020-02-28 18:17:32.49)
Do you know if these windows are transparent in the microwave regime, ~ 6 GHz?
nbayconich  (posted 2020-03-03 03:07:50.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Unfortunately we do not have any test data to support that these windows would be suitable at 6Ghz.
John Barry  (posted 2020-02-13 12:23:18.373)
I measured the c-axis of my WG31050 window and the c-axis is PERPENDICULAR to the optical axis (this is contrary to what is stated in the product overview). I had the crystal polisher check my axis determination and also Peter Moulton (the guy who invented the Ti:Sapphire laser), both of whom have a lot of experience with this.
llamb  (posted 2020-02-17 09:35:39.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I sincerely apologize for this inconvenience, and have contacted you to troubleshoot and set up a replacement window.
Antreas Theodosiou  (posted 2020-02-03 15:56:17.513)
How much of the light is blocked between 1500 nm to 1600 nm?
YLohia  (posted 2020-02-04 08:25:51.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I have reached out to you with this information.
user  (posted 2018-10-22 13:19:22.16)
I can't explain the Total Transmission value of the uncoated version : Fresnel mean transmission is 92% per face at 1.55 µm and normal incidence so the total transmission shall be less than 92% x 92% = 85%. How can you achieve 87.5% for total transmission (Fresnel + internal transmission) ?
nbayconich  (posted 2018-11-14 04:18:20.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The sapphire transmission curve does feature an artifact from the spectrophotometer used to measure the substrate which does slightly increase the transmission which we can update in the current plot. For substrates that have a higher index of refraction including Sapphire there will be a double bounce effect, meaning that the total transmission can not be accurately calculated by the first surface transmission of 92% multiplied again by 92%. The transmission can only be more accurately calculated by considering multiple passes through the substrate. It is possible to calculate the transmission of substrates that have a lower index of refraction by the above mentioned method. I will reach out to you directly with more information.
j.degallaix  (posted 2018-01-11 08:26:16.377)
Hello there, Would it possible to have the item WG31050 with a thickness of 6 mm (instead of 5mm) ? the quantity needed would be 4. I know sapphire polishing is much more difficult, but would it possible to a have surface figure (both side) slightly better, at lambda/5 for example ? Thanks in advance, Jerome
tfrisch  (posted 2018-03-20 04:56:44.0)
Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. I have forwarded your request to our Tech Support team to quote this custom thickness window.
esa.raikkonen  (posted 2014-11-25 20:08:58.06)
Hi! Does the uncoated sapphire window act as an etalon to the transmitted beam, because it has parallel surfaces? Can you deliver sapphire window with a small wedge?
jlow  (posted 2014-11-25 02:16:52.0)
Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: Thank you very much for this idea. We are going to start the process to carry this wedge window as a standard item in the near future based on your feedback. We will send you a sample once this is released.
sindler  (posted 2014-09-16 10:51:50.52)
Hello, I would be interested in sapphire windows with 6 mm thickness. Could you please quote quantity 1-5? Thank you for your support! Regards, Michal
jlow  (posted 2014-09-16 10:44:05.0)
Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: We will contact you directly for the quote.
nmandal  (posted 2014-01-30 13:02:50.25)
We use 633nm linearly polarized laser for low temperature Kerr measurement. In presence of magnetic field of 200G UV-fused silica rotates the laser polarization. I have the same problem with N-KB7. I was wondering if Sapphire window will do the same. I don't want the window to rotate my laser polarization. Please let me know if you need more information.
besembeson  (posted 2014-02-07 04:13:53.0)
Response from Bweh E at Thorlabs: Fused silica has a high Verdet constant, same with N-BK7. What most people typically use as the substrate material for such experiments that are sensitive to polarization rotation due to high magnetic fields is SFL6, which has very low Verdet constant. We can offer a custom window and lens made from SFL6. Another option might be to provide you a window with a negative Verdet constant to match the rotation created by the fused silica. I will send you separate email requesting specifications of current window and lens you have in your setup so that I can contact our Optics Department for a similar SFL6 window and lens with significantly low Verdet constant.
smoise  (posted 2013-05-15 10:34:15.47)
Hello, I would be interested in sapphire windows with 17.6 mm +/-0.05mm OD and 10 mm +/-0.1mm thikness. Could you please quote quantity 1, 10, 50? Thank you for your support! Regards, Stefan
tcohen  (posted 2013-05-15 11:06:00.0)
Response from Tim at Thorlabs to Stefan: Thank you for your inquiry. We will contact you directly with a quote.
tcohen  (posted 2012-08-22 10:09:00.0)
Response from Tim at Thorlabs to Karsten: Thank you for contacting us! We are able to quote our sapphire windows with customized dimensions. I will email you directly to go over your requirements.
karsten.hoehn  (posted 2012-08-20 20:21:50.0)
Hi, are you able to supply your sapphire windows to customized dimensions? Cheers Karsten
user  (posted 2011-12-05 13:21:21.0)
A response from Tyler at Thorlabs: These sapphire windows are z cut. If you need any additional information, please ask.
karthick  (posted 2011-12-04 00:55:04.0)
HI, please let me know if the sapphire window is c cut or z but or random cut (with respect to crystal surface). Thanks Karthick
jjurado  (posted 2011-02-10 17:16:00.0)
Response from Javier at Thorlabs to Veinardi Suendo: Thank you very much for submitting your inquiry. Sapphire is optically transparent from 150 nm up to ~ 5 um, so an uncoated sapphire window will no present any fluorescence effects.
vsuendo  (posted 2011-02-10 12:09:07.0)
Dear Sirs, Would you mind giving us the information about the possibility of the sapphire window to generate fluorescence signal when excited at 405 nm. We would like to use this window for fluorescence measurement using laser at 405 nm, thus we do not want the signal from the window to be appeared. Please provide us the information before we decide to purchase your product. Thank you very much in advance, Yours Sincerely, Veinardi Suendo
Window Selection Guide (Table Sorted by Wavelength)
Substrate and Window Type Wavelength Range Available AR Coatings Reflectance over AR Coating Rangea Transmission Data Reflectance Data
Calcium Fluoride (CaF2):
Flat or Wedged
180 nm - 8.0 μm Uncoated -
Raw Data
-
-D Coating, 1.65 - 3.0 µm Ravg < 1.0%; Rabs < 2.0% at 0° AOI
Raw Data

Raw Data
UV Fused Silica:
Flat, Wedged, V-Coated Flat,
or V-Coated Wedged
185 nm - 2.1 μm Uncoated
(Flat or Wedged)
-
Raw Data
-
-UV Coating,
245 - 400 nm
(Flat or Wedged)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI -
Raw Data
-C3 Coating,
261 - 266 nm
(V-Coated)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI - Click to View Index Plot
Raw Data
-C6 Coating,
350 - 450 nm
(V-Coated)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI - Click to View Index Plot
Raw Data
-A Coating,
350 - 700 nm
(Flat or Wedged)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI -
Raw Data
-B Coating,
650 - 1050 nm
(Flat or Wedged)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI -
Raw Data
-C Coating,
1050 - 1700 nm
(Flat or Wedged)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI -
Raw Data
Sapphire:
Flat or Wedged
200 nm - 5.0 μm Uncoated -
Raw Data
-
-D Coating, 1.65 - 3.0 µm Ravg < 1.0% at 0° AOI
Raw Data

Raw Data
-E1 Coating, 2.0 - 5.0 µm Ravg < 1.50%, Rabs < 3.0%
(per Surface, 2.0 - 5.0 µm);
Ravg < 1.75%
(per Surface, 2.0 - 4.0 µm) at 0° AOI

Raw Data

Raw Data
Magnesium Fluoride (MgF2):
Flat or Wedged
200 nm - 6.0 μm Uncoated -
Raw Data
-
Barium Fluoride (BaF2):
Flat or Wedged
200 nm - 11 µm Uncoated
(Wedged Only)
-
Raw Data
-
-E1 Coating, 2 - 5 µm Ravg < 1.25%; Rabs < 2.5% at 0° AOI
Raw Data
Icon
Raw Data
UV Fused Silica, for 45° AOI:
Flat or Wedged
250 nm - 1.6 µm Coating for
250 nm - 450 nm
Ravg < 1.0% at 45° AOI info
Raw Data
Coating for
350 nm - 1100 nm
Ravg < 2.0% at 45° AOI info
Raw Data
Coating for
400 nm - 700 nm
Ravg < 1.0% at 45° AOI info
Raw Data
Coating for
600 nm - 1700 nm
Ravg < 1.5% at 45° AOI info
Raw Data
Coating for
700 nm - 1100 nm
Ravg < 1.0% at 45° AOI info
Raw Data
Coating for
1200 nm - 1600 nm
Ravg < 1.0% at 45° AOI info
Raw Data
Potassium Bromide (KBr):
Flat
250 nm - 26 µm Uncoated - -
Infrasil®:
Flat
300 nm - 3 µm Uncoated -
Raw Data
-
N-BK7:
Flat, Wedged, V-Coated Flat,
or V-Coated Wedged
350 nm - 2.0 μm Uncoated
(Flat or Wedged)
-
Raw Data
-
-A Coating,
350 - 700 nm
(Flat or Wedged)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI -
Raw Data
-C7 Coating,
400 - 700 nm
(V-Coated)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI - Click to View Index Plot
Raw Data
-C10 Coating,
523 - 532 nm
(V-Coated)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI - Click to View Index Plot
Raw Data
-C11 Coating,
610 - 860 nm
(V-Coated)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI - Click to View Index Plot
Raw Data
-B Coating,
650 - 1050 nm
(Flat or Wedged)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI -
Raw Data
-C13 Coating,
700 - 1100 nm
(V-Coated)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI - Click to View Index Plot
Raw Data
C14 Coating,
1047 - 1064 nm
(V-Coated)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI - Click to View Index Plot
Raw Data
-C15 Coating,
523 - 532 nm &
1047 - 1064 nm
(V-Coated)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI - Click to View Index Plot
Raw Data
-C Coating,
1050 - 1700 nm
(Flat or Wedged)
Ravg < 0.5% at 0° AOI -
Raw Data
Zinc Selenide (ZnSe):
Flat or Wedged
600 nm - 16 µm Uncoated -
Raw Data
-
-D Coating, 1.65 - 3.0 µm Ravg < 1.0%; Rabs < 2.0% at 0° AOI
Raw Data

Raw Data
-E4 Coating, 2 - 13 µm
(Only Flat)
Ravg < 3.5%; Rabs < 6% at 0° AOI
Raw Data

Raw Data
-E2 Coating, 4.5 - 7.5 µm
(Only Flat)
Ravg < 1.0%; Rabs < 2.0% at 0° AOI
Raw Data

Raw Data
-E3 Coating, 7 - 12 µm
(Only Wedged)
Ravg < 1.0%; Rabs < 2.0% at 0° AOI
Raw Data
Icon
Raw Data
-G Coating, 7 - 12 µm
(Only Flat)
Ravg < 1% at 0° AOI
Raw Data

Raw Data
Silicon (Si):
Flat or Wedged
1.2 - 8.0 μm Uncoated -
Raw Data
-
-E1 Coating, 2 - 5 µm
(Only Wedged)
Ravg < 1.25%; Rabs < 2.5% at 0° AOI
Raw Data
Icon
Raw Data
-E Coating, 3 - 5 µm
(Only Flat)
Ravg < 2% at 0° AOI
Raw Data

Raw Data
Germanium (Ge):
Flat or Wedged
1.9 - 16 μm Uncoated, 2.0 - 16 μm -
Raw Data
-
-C9 Coating, 1.9 - 6 µm
(Only Flat)
Ravg < 2% at 0° AOI
Raw Data

Raw Data
-E3 Coating, 7 - 12 µm Ravg < 1.0%; Rabs < 2.0% at 0° AOI
Raw Data
Icon
Raw Data
  • Reflectance is given per surface and each window is coated on both sides.
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Sapphire Windows, Uncoated

Item # WG30530 WG31050
Diameter  1/2" (12.7 mm) 1" (25.4 mm)
Diameter Tolerance +0.0 / -0.2 mm
Thickness 3.0 mm 5.0 mm
Thickness Tolerance ±0.3 mm
Clear Aperture ≥Ø11.43 mm ≥Ø22.86 mm
Parallelism ≤3 arcmin
Transmitted Wavefront Errora <λ/4 Over Central Ø5 mm
≤λ/2 Over Full Clear Aperture
-
Surface Flatnessa λ Over Clear Aperture
Surface Quality 60-40 Scratch-Dig
Wavelength Range 200 nm - 4.5 μm (Uncoated)
Substrate Sapphireb
Transmission Data
Raw Data
  • Measured at 633 nm
  • Click Link for Detailed Specifications on the Substrate
Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
WG30530 Support Documentation
WG30530Ø1/2" Sapphire Broadband Precision Window, Uncoated
$48.69
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WG31050 Support Documentation
WG31050Ø1" Sapphire Broadband Precision Window, Uncoated
$90.87
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Sapphire Windows, AR Coated: 1.65 µm - 3.0 µm

Item # WG30530-D WG31050-D
Diameter 1/2" (12.7 mm) 1" (25.4 mm)
Diameter Tolerance +0.0 / -0.2 mm
Thickness 3.0 mm 5.0 mm
Thickness Tolerance ±0.3 mm
Clear Aperture ≥Ø11.43 mm ≥Ø22.86 mm
Parallelism ≤3 arcmin
Surface Flatnessa ≤λ/2 Over Central Ø5 mm
≤λ Over Full Clear Aperture
Surface Quality 60-40 Scratch-Dig
AR Coating Range 1.65 - 3 µm (-D Coating)
Reflectance over AR Coating Rangeb Ravg < 1.0% per Surface; Both Sides are Coated
Reflectance Data
Raw Data
Substrate Sapphirec
Transmission Data
Raw Data
Damage Threshold 2.00 J/cm2 (2050 nm, 62.5 Hz, 10 ns, Ø339 µm)
  • Measured at 633 nm
  • Average Reflectance Across the Specified Wavelength Ranges for Normal Incidence
  • Click Link for Detailed Specifications on the Substrate
Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
WG30530-D Support Documentation
WG30530-DØ1/2" Sapphire Broadband Precision Window, AR Coated: 1.65 µm - 3.0 µm
$79.00
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WG31050-D Support Documentation
WG31050-DØ1" Sapphire Broadband Precision Window, AR Coated: 1.65 µm - 3.0 µm
$121.17
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Sapphire Windows, AR Coated: 2.0 - 5.0 µm

Item # WG30530-E1 WG31050-E1
Diameter 1/2" (12.7 mm) 1" (25.4 mm)
Diameter Tolerance +0.0 / -0.2 mm
Thickness 3.0 mm 5.0 mm
Thickness Tolerance ±0.3 mm
Clear Aperture >Ø11.43 mm >Ø22.86 mm
Parallelism <3 arcmin
Transmitted Wavefront Errora ≤λ/2 Over Central Ø5 mm
≤λ Over Full Clear Aperture
≤λ/2 Over Central Ø10 mm
≤λ Over Full Clear Aperture
Surface Quality 60-40 Scratch-Dig
AR Coating Range 2.0 - 5.0 µm (-E1 Coating)
Reflectance over AR Coating Rangeb Ravg < 1.50%, Rabs < 3.0% (per Surface, 2.0 - 5.0 µm)
Ravg < 1.75% (per Surface, 2.0 - 4.0 µm)
Both Sides are Coated
Transmission over AR Coating Rangeb Tavg > 92% (2.0 - 5.0 µm)
Tavg > 94%, Tabs > 92% (2.0 - 4.0 µm)
Reflectance Data
Raw Data
Substrate Sapphirec
Transmission Data
Raw Data
Damage Threshold 200 J/cm2 (2940 nm, 200 µs, 2 Hz, Ø0.102 mm)
  • Measured at 633 nm
  • For Normal Incidence
  • Click Link for Detailed Specifications on the Substrate
Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
WG30530-E1 Support Documentation
WG30530-E1Ø1/2" Sapphire Broadband Precision Window, AR Coated: 2.0 µm - 5.0 µm
$97.11
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WG31050-E1 Support Documentation
WG31050-E1Ø1" Sapphire Broadband Precision Window, AR Coated: 2.0 µm - 5.0 µm
$146.12
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