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Results for “MAGNESIUM FLUORIDE”

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At least 19 records

Effects of simulated solar radiation on the transmission of magnesium fluoride and cryolite thin films

Thin films of cryolite magnesium fluoride on fused silica substrates were exposed to 1126 equivalent sun-hours of radiation. The optical transmissions of the samples were measured before and after irradiation. The results indicate that, after the degradation of the silica substrate is accounted for, the cryolite is severely affected by the simulated solar radiation, but the magnesium fluoride is only slightly affected.

Heslin, T.↗

Variability in the vacuum-ultraviolet transmittance of magnesium fluoride windows

Sample window materials tested during the development of a domed magnesium fluoride detector window for the Hubble Space Telescope's Imaging Spectrograph are noted to exhibit wide variability in VUV transmittance; a test program was accordingly instituted to maximize a prototype domed window's transmittance. It is found that VUV transmittance can be maximized if the boule from which the window is fashioned is sufficiently large to allow such a component to be cut from the purest available portion of the boule.

Herzig, Howard↗

Indium Tin Oxide-Magnesium Fluoride Co-Deposited Films for Spacecraft Applications

Highly transparent coatings with a maximum sheet resistivity between 10(exp 8) and 10(exp 9) ohms/square are desired to prevent charging of solar arrays for low Earth polar orbit and geosynchronous orbit missions. Indium tin oxide (ITO) and magnesium fluoride (MgF2) were ion beam sputter co-deposited onto fused silica substrates and were evaluated for transmittance, sheet resistivity and the effects of simulated space environments including atomic oxygen (AO) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation. Optical properties and sheet resistivity as a function of MgF2 content in the films will be presented. Films containing 8.4 wt.% MgF2 were found to be highly transparent and provided sheet resistivity in the required range. These films maintained a high transmittance upon exposure to AO and to VUV radiation, although exposure to AO in the presence of charged species and intense electromagnetic radiation caused significant degradation in film transmittance. Sheet resistivity of the as-fabricated films increased with time in ambient conditions. Vacuum beat treatment following film deposition caused a reduction in sheet resistivity. However, following vacuum heat treatment, sheet resistivity values remained stable during storage in ambient conditions.

Dever, Joycer A.↗

Optical Evaluation of Digital Micromirror Devices (DMDs) with UV-Grade Fused Silica, Sapphire, and Magnesium Fluoride Windows and Longterm Reflectance of Bare Devices

Digital micromirror devices (DMDs) are commercial micro-electromechanical systems, consisting of millions of mirrors which can be individually addressed and tilted into one of two states (+/-12deg). These devices were developed to create binary patterns in video projectors, in the visible range. Commercially available DMDs are hermetically sealed and extremely reliable. Recently, DMDs have been identified as an alternative to microshutter arrays for space-based multi-object spectrometers (MOS). Specifically, the MOS at the heart of the proposed Galactic Evolution Spectroscopic Explorer (GESE) uses the DMD as a reprogrammable slit mask. Unfortunately, the protective borosilicate windows limit the use of DMDs in the UV and IR regimes, where the glass has insufficient throughput. In this work, we present our efforts to replace standard DMD windows with custom windows made from UV-grade fused silica, low-absorption optical sapphire (LAOS) and magnesium fluoride (MgF2). We present transmission measurements of the antireflection coated windows and the reflectance of bare (window removed) DMDs. Furthermore, we investigated the long-term stability of the DMD reflectance and experiments for coating DMD active area with a layer of pure aluminum (Al) to boost reflectance performance in the UV spectral range (200−400 nm).

reflectance↗

Magnesium fluoride as energy storage medium for spacecraft solar thermal power systems

MgF2 was investigated as a phase-change energy-storage material for LEO power systems using solar heat to run thermal cycles. It provides a high heat of fusion per unit mass at a high melting point (1536 K). Theoretical evaluation showed the basic chemical compatibility of liquid MgF2 with refractory metals at 1600 K, though transient high pressures of H2 can occur in a closed container due to reaction with residual moisture. The compatibility was tested in two refractory metal containers for over 2000 h. Some showed no deterioration, while there was evidence that the fluoride reacted with hafnium in others. Corollary tests showed that the MgF2 supercooled by 10-30 K and 50-90 K.

Lurio, Charles A.↗

Handbook of the optical, thermal and mechanical properties of six polycrystalline dielectric materials

The design data for six polycrystalline dielectric materials are presented to describe the optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The materials are aluminum oxide, calcium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, magnesium oxide, silicon dioxide, and titanium dioxide. The primary interest is in the polycrystalline state, although single crystal data are included when appropriate. The temperature range is room temperature to melting point. The wavelength range is from near ultraviolet to near infrared.

Dewitt, D. P.↗

Point defect formation in optical materials expos ed to the space environment

Point defect formation associated with early stages of optical damage was observed unexpectedly in two, and possibly three, different optical materials subjected to short-duration space exposure. Three calcium fluoride, two lithium fluoride, and three magnesium fluoride samples were flown on Space Shuttle flight STS-46 as part of the Evaluation of Oxygen Interactions with Materials - Third Phase experiment. One each of the calcium and magnesium fluoride samples was held at a fixed temperature of 60 C during the space exposure, while the temperatures of the other samples were allowed to vary with the ambient temperature of the shuttle cargo bay. Pre-flight and post-flight optical absorption measurements were performed on all of the samples. With the possible exception of the magnesium fluoride samples, every sample clearly showed the formation of F-centers in that section of the sample that was exposed to the low earth orbit environment. Solar vacuum ultraviolet radiation is the most probable primary cause of the defect formation; however, the resulting surface metallization may be synergistically altered by the atomic oxygen environment.

Allen, J. L.↗

Results from Optical Coatings Flown on MISSE-1 and MISSE-2 and other Flight Experiments

Selected optically transparent materials and coatings flown on a number of low Earth orbit (LEO) materials flight experiments will be reviewed and discussed. Effects of flight exposure for both magnesium fluoride and lithium fluoride specimens will be presented. Individual specimens of magnesium fluoride were flown on the EOIM I11 Space Shuttle experiment, the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), the Optical Properties Monitor and Passive Optical Sample Assembly experiments on Mir, and MISSE-1 and MISSE-2 International Space Station packages. Subsequent to the LDEF retrieval and EOIM I11 experiment in 1992, the question of atomic oxygen reaction with magnesium fluoride was raised. Atomic oxygen and solar exposures, molecular contamination levels, and varying exposure durations will each be considered in evaluating any observed changes in optical properties. A comparison of the thermodynamics of oxidation of magnesium fluoride and lithium fluoride will be summarized. Elemental composition as a function of depth, as determined using XPS, will be discussed for selected specimens, to gain insight into reactions that are thermodynamically allowed under the LEO conditions.

Finckenor, Miria↗

Factors Affecting the Plasticity of Sodium Chloride, Lithium Fluoride, and Magnesium Oxide Single Crystals

A study was made of the relative magnitude of the effects of various factors on the ductility of single crystals of sodium chloride (NaCl), lithium fluoride (LiF), and magnesium oxide (MgO). Specimen treatments included water-polishing, varying cleavage rate, annealing, quenching, X-irradiation, surface coating, aging, and combinations of some of these treatments. The mechanical behavior of the crystals was studied in flexure and in compression, the latter study being performed at both constant strain rate and constant load. Etch-pit studies were carried out to provide some pertinent information on the results of pretreatment on the dislocation concentration and distribution in the vicinity of the surface. The load deformation curves for these ionic single crystals show an initial region of very low slope which proved to be due to anelastic deformation. The extent of initial anelastic deformation is modified by specimen pretreatment in a way that suggests that this deformation is the result of expansion of cleaved-in dislocation loops, which can contract on the removal of the stress. The effects of the various pretreatments on the load and deflection at fracture are in accord with the prediction one might make with regard to their effect on the nucleation of fatal surface cracks. For NaCl, increases in ductility are always accompanied by increases in strength. The creep constants for NaCl are a function of treatments which affect the bulk structure but are not a function of treatments which only affect the surface.

Stearns, Carl A.↗

Properties of multilayer filters

New methods were investigated of using optical interference coatings to produce bandpass filters for the spectral region 110 nm to 200 nm. The types of filter are: triple cavity metal dielectric filters; all dielectric reflection filters; and all dielectric Fabry Perot type filters. The latter two types use thorium fluoride and either cryolite films or magnesium fluoride films in the stacks. The optical properties of the thorium fluoride were also measured.

Baumeister, P. W.↗