Zinc Selenide Windows(ZnSe) are primarily used for transmissive optics. They are made exclusively with high quality "Laser grade" material that can be used even in the kW range CO2 Laser. ZnSe window with AR Coating have a transmittance of T > 99.4 % at 10.6 µm.
Znse is ideal for optical systems that incorporate a 10.6 µm CO2 laser and a 633 nm He-Ne alignment laser due to its low absorption in the red portion of the visible spectrum.
Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) is a relatively soft material with a Knoop Hardness of 120, making it susceptible to scratches. It is not recommended for use in harsh environments. When handling ZnSe, it is important to apply uniform pressure and wear Latex finger cots or gloves to prevent contamination and maintain its optical integrity.
Growing Method | Chemical Vapor Deposition(CVD) |
Melting Point | 1525℃ |
Transmission Band | 0.6-20um |
Bulk Absorption Coefficient | 5X10-4cm-1@10.6um |
Density | 5.268g/cm3 |
Refractive Index | 2.4015 at 10.6um |
Young’s Modulus | 67.2 GPa |
Thermal Conductivity | 0.18W/cm/℃ |
Specific Heat | 0.356J/g/℃ |
Thermal Expansion | 7.57x10-6/℃ at 20℃ |
Diameter | +0/-0.10mm |
Length | +/-0.2mm |
Chamfer | 0.20+/-0.10mm @ 45° |
Flatness(@10.6um) | λ/10 @ 10.6μm |
Parallelism | < 40 arc Seconds |
Perpendicularity | < 5 arc min |
Surface Quality | 40/20 |
What is the transmittance of the ZnSe window ?
The znse window transmission without coating.
The znse window transmission with AR coating.
How does Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) work in 10.6 µm CO2 Laser ?
Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) is commonly used in CO2 laser systems due to its high transmittance at the laser's wavelength of 10.6 micrometers (µm). ZnSe serves multiple purposes in CO2 lasers:
Optics Material: ZnSe is used as an optical material in CO2 laser systems. It can transmit the laser beam efficiently without significant losses, allowing the laser energy to pass through with minimal absorption.
Beam Delivery: ZnSe lenses and windows are utilized to shape and deliver the laser beam within the laser system. These components help focus, collimate, or steer the laser beam to achieve the desired beam characteristics and direct it to the target area.
Laser Cavity: ZnSe is employed as an optical element in the laser cavity of CO2 lasers. It may act as an output coupler or a partial reflector to establish the desired feedback and enable the generation of a coherent laser beam.
Laser Processing: ZnSe is also used as a focusing lens in CO2 laser processing systems such as cutting, engraving, marking, and welding. It helps concentrate the laser beam to a small spot size, allowing precise and controlled material removal or modification.
In summary, ZnSe plays a crucial role in CO2 laser systems by facilitating the efficient transmission of the laser beam, shaping and delivering the beam, and serving as an optical element in the laser cavity. It enables precise laser processing in applications such as material processing, cutting, engraving, and more.