Custom Fused Silica Optical Windows
Shanghai Optics manufactures custom UV fused silica windows with surface figure up to λ/10 for UV, visible, and near-infrared optical systems. Using premium UV-grade materials, precision polishing, and custom AR coatings, we support projects from prototype development to high-volume OEM production.
Designed for demanding applications including:
- UV Laser Systems
- Semiconductor Equipment
- Scientific Instruments
- Medical Imaging
- Aerospace Optics
- Machine Vision
Why Choose Fused Silica Windows?
Fused silica windows offer exceptional optical performance for applications requiring high transmission, thermal stability, and laser durability. Compared with conventional optical glass such as BK7, fused silica provides superior ultraviolet transmission, excellent material homogeneity, and a significantly lower coefficient of thermal expansion.
Key advantages include:
- Excellent transmission from 195 nm to 2500 nm
- Low thermal expansion
- High laser damage threshold
- Excellent surface quality and parallelism
- Low autofluorescence
- High chemical durability
- Available with custom AR coatings
These characteristics make fused silica windows ideal for semiconductor manufacturing, UV laser systems, spectroscopy, aerospace optics, and scientific instrumentation. Their superior UV transmission, thermal stability, and laser durability make them well suited for demanding optical systems where conventional optical glass may not provide sufficient performance.
Applications of Fused Silica Windows
Shanghai Optics manufactures fused silica windows for a wide range of optical systems.
- Laser Systems: Excellent UV transmission and a high laser damage threshold make fused silica windows ideal for excimer lasers, beam delivery systems, and high-power laser processing.
- Semiconductor: Excellent material homogeneity and UV transmission support wafer inspection, photolithography, and semiconductor manufacturing.
- Medical: Low autofluorescence and optical purity make fused silica suitable for fluorescence microscopy, endoscopy, and medical imaging.
- Aerospace: Low thermal expansion ensures dimensional stability in aerospace sensors and EO/IR systems.
- Machine Vision: High optical clarity and dimensional stability make fused silica windows ideal for industrial inspection, machine vision cameras, and precision measurement systems.
Laminated Fused Silica Windows
Laminated fused silica windows combine two or more precision-polished fused silica substrates using an optically clear interlayer. Compared with standard monolithic windows, laminated designs provide improved impact resistance, mechanical strength, and operational safety while maintaining excellent optical transmission.
Typical applications include:
- Aerospace sensor protection
- High-pressure optical windows
- Industrial inspection systems
- Protective viewing windows
- Scientific instruments
Shanghai Optics manufactures laminated fused silica windows in custom dimensions, thicknesses, and coating configurations to meet demanding OEM requirements.
UV Fused Silica Windows
UV-grade fused silica windows provide exceptional transmission from deep ultraviolet through the visible spectrum while maintaining low autofluorescence and excellent material homogeneity.
Typical applications include:
- UV laser systems
- Fluorescence microscopy
- UV spectroscopy
- Semiconductor lithography
- Analytical instruments
Shanghai Optics manufactures UV fused silica windows using Corning 7980, JGS1, and Heraeus substrates with optional UV anti-reflection coatings optimized for application-specific wavelength ranges.
Fused Silica vs Fused Quartz Windows
Although the terms fused silica and fused quartz are often used interchangeably, they are manufactured differently.
Material | Fused Silica | Fused Quartz |
Raw Material | Synthetic silicon dioxide | Natural quartz |
UV Transmission | Excellent | Very Good |
Homogeneity | Excellent | Good |
Laser Performance | Excellent | Good |
Typical Applications | Semiconductor, UV lasers, aerospace | Industrial optics |
For high-performance optical systems requiring excellent UV transmission, superior optical homogeneity, and long-term thermal stability, fused silica is generally the preferred material.
Available Fused Silica Substrates
Shanghai Optics manufactures fused silica windows using a range of premium optical substrates to meet different wavelength, performance, and application requirements. Our engineering team can recommend the most suitable material based on your optical system and operating environment.
- Corning 7980 Fused Silica: Corning 7980 is a high-purity synthetic fused silica offering excellent homogeneity and outstanding transmission from the deep UV to the infrared. It is widely used in semiconductor equipment, UV laser systems, and scientific instruments requiring high optical precision.
- Heraeus Fused Silica: Heraeus fused silica provides exceptional optical purity and is available in grades optimized for UV, visible, infrared, and broadband applications. It is commonly selected for precision optics, laser systems, and advanced imaging applications.
- JGS1 Fused Silica: JGS1 is a UV-grade synthetic fused silica designed for deep ultraviolet applications with excellent transmission and extremely low absorption. It is ideal for UV lasers, spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and semiconductor inspection.
- JGS2 Fused Silica: JGS2 offers excellent transmission from 220–2500 nm, making it suitable for visible and near-infrared optical systems. It is widely used in semiconductor manufacturing, industrial lasers, and general optical instrumentation.
Which Substrate Should I Choose?
Application | Recommended Material |
Excimer Laser | JGS1 |
Semiconductor | Corning 7980 |
Scientific Research | Heraeus |
General UV | JGS1 |
Visible/NIR | JGS2 |
Need Help Selecting a Substrate?
Not sure which fused silica material is right for your application? Our optical engineers can help you select the optimal substrate based on your wavelength, operating environment, coating requirements, and performance goals.
In addition to substrate selection, we offer custom anti-reflection (AR) coatings optimized for UV, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths to maximize transmission and minimize reflection losses for your specific optical system.
Optical Transmission
Fused silica provides excellent transmission across the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared spectrum, making it one of the most widely used materials for precision optical windows.
Wavelength Range | Performance |
195–250 nm | Excellent UV transmission |
250–700 nm | High visible transmission |
700–2500 nm | Excellent NIR performance |
Combined with custom anti-reflection coatings, fused silica windows minimize reflection losses while maintaining high transmission across the specified wavelength range. Shanghai Optics offers UV, visible, near-infrared, and broadband AR coatings tailored to your wavelength range, angle of incidence, and application requirements.
Transmission performance can be further optimized using custom anti-reflection coatings designed for specific wavelength ranges and angles of incidence.
Fused Silica Windows Factory Standards
Shanghai Optics manufactures precision fused silica windows in standard and custom sizes with tight tolerances, excellent optical quality, and specifications suitable for demanding laser, semiconductor, and scientific applications.
Specification | Factory Standard |
Available Diameter | 3.5–25.4 mm |
Available Thickness | 1.0–3.0 mm |
Material | Corning 7980, JGS1, JGS2, Heraeus Fused Silica |
Diameter Tolerance | +0.0 / -0.05 mm |
Thickness Tolerance | ±0.1 mm |
Clear Aperture | >85% |
Parallelism | ≤5 arc min |
Surface Quality | 10-5 Scratch-Dig |
Surface Figure (Irregularity) | λ/10 |
Wavefront Distortion | λ/10 per 25 mm |
Protective Bevel | Available |
Standard | MIL-PRF-13830B (Surface Quality) |
Need a custom size or tighter tolerance? Shanghai Optics can manufacture fused silica windows with custom dimensions, thicknesses, coatings, and optical specifications to meet your application requirements.
Protective Bevel available
| Part Number | Diameter(mm) | Thickness(mm) | Material |
| WIN-035-010-FS | 3.5 | 1.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-035-020-FS | 3.5 | 2.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-035-030-FS | 3.5 | 3.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-050-010-FS | 5.0 | 1.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-050-020-FS | 5.0 | 2.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-050-030-FS | 5.0 | 3.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-100-010-FS | 10.0 | 1.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-100-020-FS | 10.0 | 2.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-100-030-FS | 10.0 | 3.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-127-010-FS | 12.7 | 1.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-127-020-FS | 12.7 | 2.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-127-030-FS | 12.7 | 3.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-200-010-FS | 20.0 | 1.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-200-020-FS | 20.0 | 2.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-200-030-FS | 20.0 | 3.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-254-010-FS | 25.4 | 1.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-254-020-FS | 25.4 | 2.0 | Fused Silica |
| WIN-254-030-FS | 25.4 | 3.0 | Fused Silica |
Frequently Asked Questions About Fused Silica Windows
What is a fused silica window?
A fused silica window is a flat optical component designed to transmit light while protecting optical systems from environmental contaminants. Fused silica windows offer excellent UV transmission, low thermal expansion, and high laser damage resistance, making them ideal for semiconductor, laser, medical, and scientific applications.
What is the difference between fused silica and fused quartz windows?
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, fused silica is manufactured from synthetic silicon dioxide, while fused quartz is produced from natural quartz. Fused silica generally offers higher purity, better UV transmission, and improved optical homogeneity, making it the preferred choice for precision optical applications.
What wavelengths do fused silica windows support?
Fused silica windows provide excellent optical transmission from approximately 195 nm to 2500 nm, making them suitable for ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), and near-infrared (NIR) optical systems.
What are laminated fused silica windows used for?
Laminated fused silica windows combine multiple fused silica substrates to improve mechanical strength and impact resistance while maintaining excellent optical performance. They are commonly used in aerospace, industrial inspection, high-pressure systems, and protective optical windows.
What coatings are available for fused silica windows?
Shanghai Optics offers uncoated windows as well as custom anti-reflection (AR) coatings for UV, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths. Custom coating designs are also available to optimize transmission for specific applications.
Can Shanghai Optics manufacture custom fused silica windows?
Yes. We manufacture custom fused silica windows in virtually any size, thickness, substrate, surface quality, coating, and tolerance required by your application.
Need Custom Fused Silica Windows?
Whether you’re developing a UV laser system, semiconductor equipment, scientific instrument, or aerospace optical system, Shanghai Optics can manufacture fused silica windows to your exact specifications.
Our optical engineers can help you select the optimal substrate, coating, surface quality, and manufacturing tolerances to meet your performance requirements—from prototype development through OEM and volume production.
Our Capabilities
- Custom dimensions and thicknesses
- Corning 7980, JGS1, JGS2, and Heraeus fused silica
- Precision polishing and tight tolerances
- UV, VIS, and NIR anti-reflection coatings
- Prototype to high-volume OEM manufacturing
Need help?
We offer consultations and initial feasibility studies. If you have questions about limitations or lens capabilities we’re more than happy to work through your proposed custom components. As an unmatched custom optical provider, we’ll do everything that we can bring your vision to life.
