Calcite is a naturally occuring negative uniaxial crystal that exhibits high birefringence and a wide spectral transmission range. Although cutting and polishing calcite are challenging due to its softness, it is a widely used material for visible and near IR polarizers, such as Glan Taylor, Glan Thompson and Glan laser.
|
Transparency Range (nm) |
350~2300
|
|
|
Crystal Symmetry Class |
Trigonal-Rhombohedral, D3d
|
|
|
Crystal Class |
Negative Uniaxial
|
|
|
Hygroscopic Susceptibility |
Low Susceptibility to Moisture
|
|
|
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (/°K)
|
||C: 5.68X10-6 ⊥C: 24.39X10-6 |
|
|
Refractive Indices |
no=1.6557, ne=1.4853 at 630nm no=1.6629, ne=1.4885 at 1300nm
|
|
|
Sellmeier Equation (λ in um) |
no2=2.69705+0.0192064/(λ2-0.01820)+0.0151624·λ2 ne2=2.18438+0.0087309/(λ2-0.01018)+0.0024411·λ2
|
|
|
Density (g/cm3) |
2.71
|
|
|
Mohs Hardness |
3
|
|
|
Table 1: Calcite Physical and Optical Properties
|
|
|