In this paper properties of chemical vapor deposited (CVD) SiC and Si optical substrates for use in severe environments are presented. Important data on CVD SiC concerning the elastic modulus polishability scattering measurement thermal and cryogenic stability degradation due to atomic oxygen and electron beam are included. Further scattering measurement data and atomic oxygen degradation effects on CVD Si are also presented. These measurements show that CVD SiC substrates exhibit excellent polishability 1 A RMS) with low scatter good retention of mechanical properties up to 1500 C superior thermal and cryogenic stability (-190 C to 1350 C) and high resistance to atomic oxygen and electron beam degradation. VD Si substrates exhibit excellent polishability 2 A RNS) with low scatter and good resistance to atomic oxygen degradation. These preliminary results suggest that CVD SiC and Si are good optical substrates for severe environment such as outer space lasers combustion and synchrotron x-rays. 1 . 0

Date Published: 1 January 1991
PDF: 14 pages
Proc. SPIE 1330, Optical Surfaces Resistant to Severe Environments, (1 January 1991); doi: 10.1117/12.47515

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1330:
Optical Surfaces Resistant to Severe Environments
Solomon Musikant, Editor(s)