Effect of heterophase inclusions on the optical losses in high-purity IR optical materials

Using a tungstate-tellurite glass and high-purity zinc sulfide—promising IR optical materials—as test systems, we have developed an approach for evaluating the limits of the sensitivity of optical losses to the presence of heterophase impurity inclusions and second-phase inclusions differing in chemical nature and size. We have calculated the volume fraction of disperse phases and concentration of inclusions which ensure optical losses in these materials below a predetermined level.