Barium Fluoride Optical Windows

Baf 2 is recommended for use as a vacuum ultraviolet window where high radiation resistance is required.

Barium fluoride optical windows. Baf 2 is less soluble than lif but relatively more soluble than mgf 2 and caf 2. Barium fluoride is resistant to high energy radiation performing well in dry temperatures up to 800 c but transmission in the vacuum uv vuv degrades over time in a moist atmosphere and the material is susceptible to water corrosion at 500 c. For an equivalent thickness the transmission extends approximately 1 micron further into the ir than calcium fluoride. Although these windows are ar coated on both sides for ir use barium fluoride is commonly chosen for applications that require transmission into the ultraviolet.

Barium fluoride baf is a crystalline compound of barium and fluoride used in optical applications in the nir vis and mwir spectrums. While barium fluoride windows are less resistant to water than calcium fluoride baf 2 windows are the most resistant optical fluoride to high energy radiation but feature lower uv. Baf2 has excellent transmission from 200nm 12μm and resistance to high energy radiation. Used for optical windows prisms and lenses transmitting from the vacuum ultraviolet into the infrared.

Barium fluoride is often suitable for applications in the passive ir band 8 to 14 μm and is often used as a viewport window for thermography. Barium fluoride baf2 windows. Barium fluoride baf2 is the fastest known scintillator material and barium fluoride windows and plates are used in vuv and infrared spectroscopy. An ar coating maximizes the transmission over 3 to 5 µm r avg 2.

Thorlabs barium fluoride baf 2 precision windows are available in ø1 2 and ø1 sizes. Windows intended primarily for ir use and noted as having ir polish may have. Barium fluoride windows can be used up to 800 c in a dry environment but prolonged exposure to moisture can degrade transmission in the vacuum ultraviolet range.