Abstract
Gallium phosphide is interesting material for optical system working in both visible and MWIR or LWIR spectral ranges. Number of a material available for these applications is limited. They are typically salts, fluorides or sulphides and usually exhibit unfavorable properties like brittleness; softness; solubility in water and small chemical resistance. Although GaP has do not offer best optical parameters excels over most other material in mechanical and chemical resistance. The article describes its most important characteristics and outlines some applications where GaP should prove useful.
1 Introduction
TOPTEC research centre is working on research project that includes production of optical elements from gallium phosphide and design of infrared and combined visibleinfrared system. As the number of materials applicable in those systems is very limited, GaP important is one a few optical materials that are useable in such designs.
6 Conclusion
GaP is a member of family of optical materials usable from VIS do 10µm spectral range. As the family does not have many members compared to VIS/NIR and MWIR/LWIR families, specific optical properties gives optical designer another free parameters to solve optical problems. Important characteristic of GaP is its mechanical toughness and chemical resistivity compared to other materials in its family.
