Using the VT cell to characterise the thermal runaway properties of Ge which become appreciable above 150 °C.
The suitability of an infrared material for a particular application is assessed on a number of characteristics, such as: consideration of the useful wavelength transmission range, extent of surface reflection losses, inertness, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient, hardness, and susceptibility to thermal and mechanical shock.
Germanium (Ge) is a very versatile optical material used in thermal imaging systems, optical design applications, and infrared analysis. It is non-hygroscopic, chemically resistant to many solvents, has an excellent surface hardness, and good mechanical strength. It also has a wide optical transmission range from 2 to 12 microns. Though it does have high reflection losses due to its high refractive index, these may be greatly reduced by employing an appropriate antireflection coating. Its high refractive index makes it a material of significant interest for use in infrared attenuated total reflection (ATR) optical spectroscopy.
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