Materials

YREMOptics offer a multitude of high-performance optical materials including : Germanium (Ge),  Calcium fluoride (CaF2) , Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), Zinc Selenide (ZnSe), Fused silica, Fused Quartz, Silicon (Si), Sapphire, crystals, Infrared glass, Optical glasses and plastic materials.

Our company provides a comprehensive range of optical components, offering both standard catalog items and customizable options tailored to meet the unique specifications and requirements of each customer’s order.

We are specialiazing in Germanium (Ge), Calcium fluoride (CaF2) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) materials and substrates.

Whether you require lenses, windows, prisms, or other optical components, we have the expertise and resources to deliver solutions that exceed your expectations.

Germanium

Germanium has a diamond cubic crystal structure, similar to that of diamond and silicon. Due to its higher hardness and density compared to silicon, Germanium is advantageous for applications necessitating robust optical components.

Applications of Germanium Materials and Substrates:

  1. Infrared Optics: germanium lenses, windows, and prisms are widely used in IR imaging systems, thermal cameras, and night vision devices. Its high transmission in the IR spectrum allows for clear imaging in low-light conditions.
  2. Spectroscopy:  IR spectroscopy instruments for analyzing molecular vibrations and identifying chemical compounds based on their IR absorption spectra.
  3. Laser Optics:  high-power laser systems operating in the IR range, such as CO2 lasers and semiconductor lasers, due to their high optical quality and thermal stability.
  4. Medical Imaging:  medical imaging devices, such as infrared thermography systems and IR microscopy, for non-invasive diagnosis and research applications.
  5. Space Applications: germanium is suitable for spaceborne optical systems due to its radiation resistance and IR transparency, making it ideal for satellite-based IR sensors and space telescopes.
  6. Defense and Security: military surveillance systems, missile tracking, and border security, providing enhanced detection capabilities in the IR spectrum.
Properties of Germanium:
  • Optical Transparency: excellent transparency in the infrared (IR) region, particularly in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectra, making it suitable for thermal imaging and sensing applications.
  • Refractive Index: high refractive index compared to other optical materials, allowing for efficient light manipulation and focusing in IR optics.
  • Thermal Conductivity: with its high thermal conductivity, Germanium can efficiently dissipate heat generated in optical systems, contributing to thermal stability and reliability.
  • Mechanical Properties: relatively brittle and sensitive to mechanical stress, requiring careful handling during fabrication and use.
YREMOptics supply Germanium to craft various materials, including lenses, windows, prisms, mirrors and also on custom request.

Calcium fluoride (CaF2)

YREMOptics supply crystalline CaF2 (calcium fluoride) in the form of optical windows, wedges, spherical and cylindrical lenses, prisms , mirrors with both gold and dichroic coatings. We also supply raw materials and products according to the client’s request.

Coatings and Surface Treatments :

Anti-Reflection (AR) Coatings: CaF2 materials can be coated with anti-reflection coatings to enhance transmission and reduce surface reflections, particularly in applications where high optical efficiency is critical.

Surface Polishing : we employ high-precision polishing techniques to achieve optical surfaces with minimal surface roughness and scatter, ensuring optimal performance in optical systems.

CaF2_prism
Applications
  • Ultraviolet (UV) Optics
  • Infrared (IR) Optics
  • Laser Optics
  • Fluorescence imaging

An advantage of Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) over other fluorides such as BaF2, LiF, and MgF2 is its low solubility in water at room temperature. This characteristic ensures that polished CaF2 surfaces maintain stability for extended periods under typical operating conditions, including varying humidity and temperature levels.

Gallium Arsenide (GaAs)

Our expertise lies in providing premium GaAs optics, encompassing GaAs lenses, windows, and ground blanks, meticulously crafted to align with your precise specifications.

Applications

  1. Laser diodes
  2. Infrared (IR) Optics
  3. Photodetectors
  4. Optical modulators
Properties of Gallium arsenide:
  • Transmission Range : 1 to 16μm
  • Melting Point : 1511 °C
  • Refractive index : 3.2727@ 10,33μm
  • Hardness : Knoop 750
  • Density: 5,315 g/cm3
  • Surface Quality : 40-20, 60-40 80-50 scratch dig
  • AR Coating : BBAR for 1 to 14µm or DLC for 1 to 14µm.