Calcium fluoride

Calcium fluoride (CaF₂) is an ionic compound composed of calcium and fluoride ions. It occurs naturally as fluorite and is valued for its transparency across a broad range of wavelengths.

Fluorite: Fluorite is the mineral form of calcium fluoride, often colored by trace impurities. The mineral name identifies naturally occurring CaF₂ and its characteristic crystal form.
Calcium fluoride windows: Calcium fluoride windows are optical components made from crystalline CaF₂. They exploit the material's broad transmission range in optical systems.
Calcium fluoride crystal: A calcium fluoride crystal is an ordered solid whose repeating lattice contains calcium and fluoride ions. Crystal quality determines scattering and performance in optical components.
Fluorescence: Fluorescence is light emission that occurs shortly after a substance absorbs radiation. The phenomenon was named after fluorite, though not all fluorite fluoresces.
Fused silica: Fused silica is high-purity amorphous silicon dioxide used in optical and scientific equipment. It offers a different balance of ultraviolet transmission, thermal behavior, and durability.
Calcium: Calcium is a chemical element with atomic number 20 and a common divalent ion. Calcium ions supply the positive charge in calcium fluoride.
Excimer laser: An excimer laser produces pulsed ultraviolet light using excited molecular species. CaF₂ optics can transmit the ultraviolet wavelengths used by excimer lasers.
Frenkel defect: A Frenkel defect is a crystal imperfection in which an ion leaves its lattice site and occupies an interstitial site. Fluoride ions in CaF₂ can form vacancy-interstitial defect pairs.
George Gabriel Stokes: George Gabriel Stokes was a nineteenth-century Irish mathematician and physicist who studied fluorescence. His work helped establish the terminology associated with fluorite's namesake phenomenon.
Sapphire: Sapphire is crystalline aluminum oxide, prized for hardness and optical transparency. Its exceptional hardness contrasts with CaF₂'s greater susceptibility to scratching.

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