Hydrophilic bonding for amorphous and crystalline heavy-duty optics

Objective

Mineralic bonding technology „at the nanoscale“ for glasses and transparent crystalline materials, ultra-thin and hightemperature adequate for heavy-duty applications.

Pre-conditions

• Oxidic materials, in particular with high contents of SiO2 or Al2O3
• Extremely smooth (polished) surfaces roughness < 1 nm RMS*
• Surfaces of high fl atness or conform, fl atness at least λ/10 PV*

      * λ: wavelength (@ 632 nm)
      PV: peak-to-valley
      RMS: root-mean-square

Bond characteristics

• Full transparency (bonding area is “invisible”)
• No uncontrolled creep / drift under mechanical load
• No outgassing at elevated temperatures
• No stress from thermal mismatch at temperature drifts (for identical materials)
• Assembly of individual parts without gap „accurate to gauge blocks“

Applications

• UV, VIS and IR-Optics (in transmission and refl ection)
• Laser applications (beam guidance, cooling)
• Space applications (extremely stable integrated optics)