Silicon
Si
Silicon is a cornerstone of optics and photonics, cherished for its unique optical properties and remarkable adaptability.
One of its standout features is its transparency to infrared light, particularly in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum, spanning from approximately 1.2 to over 8 microns. This quality renders it invaluable for applications that require the transmission of infrared radiation.
With a relatively high index of refraction, typically around 3.4 in the infrared range, silicon serves as an excellent material for crafting optical components like lenses, prisms, and windows.
Silicon optics find diverse applications across fields such as spectroscopy, thermal imaging, and infrared sensing. Silicon lenses and windows, known for their exceptional infrared transmission capabilities, are widely utilized in infrared cameras and imaging systems. Additionally, silicon wafers play a crucial role in integrated photonic circuits for data transmission and processing in telecommunications and optical computing. We can supply both FZ and CZ optical grade silicon.
Si Technical Information
Optical Grade Silicon (Si) is a high-index material used in infrared optics with the following technical properties:
Transmission Range: 0.12 to 15 μm and 30 to >100 μm
Refractive Index: 3.4223 at 5 μm
Reflection Loss: 46.2% at 5 μm (2 surfaces)
Absorption Coefficient: 0.01 cm-1 @ 3 μm
Reststrahlen Peak: n/a
dn/dT: 160 x 10-6/°C
Density: 2.33 g/cc
Melting Point: 1420°C
Thermal Conductivity: 163 W m-1 K-1 @ 273 K
Thermal Expansion: 2.6 x 10-6/°C @ 20°C
Hardness Knoop: 1150
Specific Heat Capacity: 703 J Kg-1 K-1
Dielectric Constant: 13 at 10 GHz
Young’s Modulus (E): 131 GPa
Shear Modulus (G): 79.9 GPa
Bulk Modulus (K): 102 GPa
Elastic Coefficients: C11=167; C12=65; C44=80
Apparent Elastic Limit: 124.1 MPa (18,000psi)
Poisson Ratio: 0.266
Solubility: Insoluble in water
Molecular Weight: 28.09
Class/Structure: Cubic diamond, Fd3m
Please note that these values are typical and may vary based on the grade and manufacturing process of the material