New Optical Materials for the Long-Wave (8-12 Microns) Region: Design Criteria for the Solid-State Chemist

Abstract

Certain applications that utilize long-wavelength (8-12 micron) infrared (LWIR) windows require environmental durability and mechanical strength in addition to infrared optical transparency; i.e., the window-materials must simultaneously serve as optical and structural ceramics. The fundamental requirement of optical transparency in the long-wavelength region eliminates from consideration all well-known ceramic materials such as oxides, nitrides, and other light-anion compounds, making this a particularly difficult materials problem. The structure-property relationships and chemical rationale used to guide both the screening of known compounds and the synthesis of new compounds likely to possess the desired properties rely on factors such as atomic mass, electronic configuration, coordination number, and crystal structure-type. The resulting criteria have directed our efforts in the synthesis and characterization of a number of ternary indium sulfide phases and calcium yttrium sulfide systems.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA243280

Entities

People

  • C. K. Lowe-ma
  • T. A. Vanderah

Organizations

  • Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Band Gaps
  • Ceramic Materials
  • Chemical Bonds
  • Crystal Structure
  • Crystals
  • Design Criteria
  • Long Wavelengths
  • Materials
  • Materials Science
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Optical Materials
  • Physical Properties
  • Single Crystals
  • Thermal Expansion
  • Three Dimensional
  • Transparencies

Fields of Study

  • Chemistry
  • Materials science

Readers

  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Spectroscopy.
  • Surface Engineering/Surface Coating Technology.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics