<title>Chalcogenide glasses for passive FLIR systems</title>

Abstract

The use of chalcogenide non-oxide glasses as infrared optical materials began with the development of a commercial process to produce As₂S₃ glass around 1950. The volume production of FLIR systems in the 80s meant that such glasses were produced annually in `ton' quantities. Methods of production for the most commonly used glasses will be discussed. Optical and related physical properties; absorption, refractive index, thermal change in refractive index and optical homogeneity results for all passive IR materials used in FLIRS will be presented.