A germanium optical windowis made of germanium and is opaque to UV and visible light, but has a wide transmission range in the infrared. Due to its high index of refraction (4.0 from 2 to 14m), it has minimal chromatic aberration and anti-reflection coating is used in it. Among commonly used IR-transmitters, germanium has the highest refractive index and it has the lowest optical dispersion. These windows are ideal for situations where robust optics is the key. It can also be used as a long pass filter, allowing only wavelengths longer than 2 m to pass through. Germanium optical windows are extensively utilised in the defence and aerospace industries, life and medical sciences, industrial OEM, and a variety of other infrared applications,
Germanium optical windows are commonly employed in thermal imaging as a front optic, and its high index of refraction makes it suitable for wide-angle lenses and microscopes. In thermal imaging systems, germanium is commonly utilised for IR windows and lenses. It is also scratch resistant and nonreactive to oxygen, water, alkalis, and many acids.
Germanium (Ge) is a hard, high-density, IR transmitting substance that inhibits UV and VIS wavelengths but transmits IR up to 2 metres. It has the highest refractive index and minimal optical dispersion of all readily accessible IR-transmitters.
It is recommended that you use AR coating for germanium windows This high-density thermal imaging Germanium windows has a thermal escape, which reduces transmission when the window's temperature rises. Most optical manufacturers offer three kinds of thermal imaging Germanium windows including uncoated, AR both sides coated and AR/DLC coated in a range of sizes. They also provide germanium windows in custom range options such as squares/rectangles, material, shapes and much more.
