Empty Glass Cells with Brewster Windows

Specifications
Item #	GC251B	GC252B
Path Lengtha	100.0 ± 3.0 mm
Cell Outer Diameter	25.0 ± 0.2 mm
Cell Clear Aperture	>Ø20.0 mm
Pressure (at 25 °C)	<10-7 Torr to 5 psi
Fill Tube Length	99.5 mm	30.0 mm
Number of Fill Tubes	One	Two
Fill Tube Outer Diameter (Typical)	6.4 mm (0.25")
Window Angle	55.5° ± 1.0°
Window Item #	BW2502
Transmitted Wavefront Error	λ/10 @ 633 nm
Window & Cell Substrate	UV Fused Silicab
UVFS Transmission (Click for Plot)
Diagram (Click to View)

• Length of the center of the cell excluding the windows.
• Click link for detailed specifications on the substrate.

Features

• Glass Cells with 100 mm Path Length for Spectroscopy Applications:
  • Both Ends Include Thorlabs' BW2502 Brewster Windows
  • Near-Zero Reflection Losses of P-Polarized Light
• Available with One Tube for Filling or Two Tubes for Flow
• Compatible with Our KF25C025 and KF16C025 Flange to Compression Fitting Adapters
• UV-Fused Silica Substrate for Windows Resists Chipping and Scratching
• High Transmission from 185 nm to 2.1 μm

Thorlabs' Empty Fused Silica Cells with Brewster Windows provide high transmission from 185 nm to 2.1 μm. The BW2502 Brewster windows at each end are hermetically sealed at the Brewster's angle of 55.5° at 633 nm, enabling near-zero reflection losses of the p-polarized component of light while suppressing transmission of s-polarized light. Please see the Graphs tab for more information on wavelength dependence and reflectance. We also offer other empty cells for a variety of spectroscopic applications as shown in Table 1.2.

Cells are available with one or two fill tubes. The GC251B glass cell is designed with a single fill tube which is useful when introducing a sample into the cell and sealing it off for measurements. The GC252B glass cell features two fill tubes to allow a sample to flow through the cell while under analysis. The cells do not come with integrated valves and can only isolate a sample by adding valves at some other points in the system.

The fill tubes have a Ø1/4" (6.4 mm) outer diameter and are compatible with our KF25C025 and KF16C025 flange to compression fitting adapters; for more information see the Vacuum Seal tab. As shown in Video 1.1, custom reference cells can be manufactured upon request, including different cell lengths, cell diameters, or fill tube configurations. Please contact Tech Sales with inquiries.

The cell windows at each end are made from UV-fused silica (UVFS), a rugged material that resists chipping and scratching and offers high transmission for wavelengths between 185 nm and 2.1 μm. All glass cells on this page are capable of withstanding vacuum environments as low as 10^-7 Torr and pressures as high as 5 psi at 25 °C. Post production, the cells undergo ultrasonic cleaning, a methanol rinse, and are coated with First Contact™* Polymer, a polymer coating that protects the optics from scratching and chipping and can be easily peeled off before the cell is used. The cells are not vacuum sealed when shipped; before using the cells in a vacuum setup, we advise users to clean with a methanol rinse.

Mounting & Heating Options
The glass cells can be mounted in our V-Clamp Mounts, which are available in standard, kinematic, or Ø1.5" post-compatible versions. Please check that the cell diameter is supported by the mount. A VBC2(/M) Post-Mountable Band Clamp is well-suited for mounting a GC251B cell without marring, while a VBC1(/M) Post-Mountable Band Clamp can be used to mount a GC252B cell without marring. The glass cells can also be mounted and heated up to 50 °C in our GCH25-75 Glass Cell Heater. 

*First Contact is a trademark of Photonic Cleaning Technologies, LLC.

Table 1.2  Single-Pass Cells Selection Guide
Empty Glass Cells with Borosilicate Windows	Empty Glass Cells with Textured Antireflective Windows	Empty Glass Cells with Angled Windows	Empty Glass Cells with Brewster Windows	Empty Alumina Cells with Sapphire Windows	Threaded Empty Glass Cells	Threaded Empty Stainless Steel Cells	Vapor Reference Cells	Acetylene Reference Cells	Glass Cell Heaters

This tab features information on the refraction and reflection of UV fused silica and UV fused silica windows at Brewster's angle.

UV Fused Silica Index of Refraction 

Click to Enlarge
Figure 2.2  This graph shows the calculated reflectance of uncoated UV fused silica for polarized light as a function of angle of incidence. The reflectance for P-polarized light goes to zero at Brewster's angle.

Click to Enlarge
Figure 2.1  This graph shows the calculated index of refraction of UV fused silica as a function of wavelength.

The index of refraction for UV fused silica is wavelength dependent, as shown in Figure 2.1, and expressed by the following formula:

Figure 2.4  This image shows the reflection of S-polarized light and transmission of P-polarized light through a Brewster window. Some S-polarized light will be transmitted through the window.

Click to Enlarge
Figure 2.3  This graph shows the calculated value of Brewster's angle as a function of wavelength when light is passing from air to UV fused silica.

Brewster's angle is given by

.

θ_B is Brewster's angle.
n_i is the index of refraction of the incident medium, which is 1.0003 for air.
n_t is the index of refraction of the transmitting medium, which is 1.45701 for fused silica at 633 nm.
Hence, Brewster's angle also displays a wavelength dependence, as shown in Figure 2.3.

Absorption Spectroscopy

The reference substance pumped into the glass cell is associated with a unique absorption spectrum that serves as its fingerprint. The contents of a reference cell can be determined via a linear absorption measurement (as depicted in Figure 3.1). By scanning a tunable diode laser over a wavelength range and detecting light absorption with a photodetector, a series of peaks will be recorded, which is characteristic of the vapor inside the cell. Please note that we also offer pre-filled and sealed acetylene reference cells, as well as vapor reference cells with quartz or borosilicate substrates.

A reference cell with Brewster windows minimizes back-reflections, etalon effects, and other stray reflections throughout a setup, which is critical for applications requiring a high power (linearly polarized) laser source. The Brewster angle changes little with wavelength as seen in the Graphs tab, and so retains its anti-reflectivity over a broader range of wavelengths than an AR coated cell. 

Figure 3.1  Absorption Spectroscopy Schematic

Click for Details
Figure 4.1  Disassembled view of a KF25
flange-to-compression-fitting adapter.

Creating a Vacuum Seal with a KF Flange

Thorlabs' empty fused silica cells can be used with our KF16 and KF25 Flanged Components and Accessories in order to manage gas flow in and out of the cell. The glass cells are terminated with one or two Ø0.25" (Ø6.35 mm) fill tubes that can be inserted into a KF16C025 or a KF25C025 Flange-to-Compression-Fitting Adapter.

To input the glass cell into a KF16 or KF25 vacuum system, follow the instructions below.

1. Select a KF16 or KF25 flange-to-compression-fitting adapter that is compatible with the fill tube diameter of the glass cell.
2. Coat a cleaned and inspected KF16CR-F or KF25CR-F Centering O-Ring in vacuum grease and place it on a base post or pipe.
3. Place the flange-to-compression-fitting adapter on top of the KF16CR-F or KF25CR-F Centering O-Ring and secure them with the KF16WNC or KF25WNC Wing Nut Clamp.
4. Loosen and remove the knurled locking knob, O-ring, and seal ring of the flange-to-compression-fitting adapter so its mating surface can be inspected and the included O-ring can be coated in vacuum grease. This will create a vacuum seal when the cell is inserted into the system.
5. Slide the open end of the glass cell tube through the top (side with the Thorlabs engraving) of the knurled locking knob, seal ring (with the counterbore seat for the O-ring facing the adapter body), and O-ring (in that order) of the flange-to-compression-fitting adapter.
6. Slide the glass tube into the flange adapter body and then slide the O-ring, seal ring, and knurled locking knob down the tube onto the flange adapter body. Tighten the knurled locking knob by hand.

It is not recommended to insert the glass tube into a fully assembled KF flange-to-compression-fitting adapter. The sharp edges of the glass tube may damage the O-ring, thus causing the seal to fail.