Silicon Windows from Avantier
Silicon windows are precision optical components that enable light transmission with minimal scatter or diffraction. At Avantier, we manufacture single crystal silicon windows with diameters ranging from 5 mm to 400 mm and offer custom optics upon request. Our silicon windows are designed to provide exceptional optical clarity with minimal wavelength distortion, making them an economical choice for various applications.
Silicon in Semiconductor and Optical Applications
Silicon is the principal element in most semiconductor devices, particularly in integrated circuits or microchips, due to its stability at higher temperatures compared to germanium. This resilience makes it a preferred material for a wide range of applications in the semiconductor and imaging systems industries.
Key Properties of Silicon Windows
Silicon’s low density of 2.329 g/cm³ makes it ideal for weight-sensitive applications. It performs exceptionally well in the infrared (IR) spectrum with high transparency in the 1.2–7.0 µm range. However, standard silicon windows are not recommended for CO₂ laser applications due to silicon’s strong absorption band at 9 µm. For such cases, we offer float zone (FZ) silicon windows, which are free from the Si-O absorption band and enhance performance in high thermal applications.
Float Zone Silicon and its Advantages
Float zone silicon is an ultra-pure type of silicon produced through a vertical melting process. A highly pure silicon rod is passed through a radio-frequency (RF) heating coil in a vacuum, creating a localized molten zone where crystal growth begins from a seed crystal. Due to surface tension limitations in this process, float zone silicon is typically restricted to diameters of 200 mm. This high-purity silicon is also ideal for terahertz applications, where its superior conversion efficiency makes it highly effective for solar arrays in satellite systems.
Factory Standards
Size |
5mm-400mm |
Surface Figure |
λ/10@633nm |
Parallelism |
5″ |
Clear Aperture |
>90% |
Coatings |
Available Uncoated or AR Coated for 3 – 9 μm |
Surface Quality |
20-10 |
Custom Coatings and Specifications
Our silicon windows offer options with or without anti-reflection (AR) coatings, designed for wavelengths from 3–9 µm. For specialized needs, we offer custom coatings and consulting services to tailor optics to your specific needs. Our design team supports every stage of development—from blueprints to prototypes to full-scale manufacturing—ensuring you achieve the ideal optical materials for your system requirements. Please contact us to discuss your project and explore our custom manufacturing capabilities.
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