Long-wave infrared absorption measurement of undoped germanium using photothermal common-path interferometry

Germanium is one of the most commonly used materials in the longwave infrared ($\lambda \sim{8 {-} 12}\;\unicode{x00B5}{\rm m}$λ∼8-12µm), but ironically, its absorption coefficient is poorly known in this range. An infrared photothermal common-path interferometry system with a tunable quantum cascade pump laser is used to measure the absorption coefficient of ${ \gt }{99.999}\% $>99.999% pure undoped germanium as a function of wavelengths between 9 and 11 µm, varying between about 0.15 and ${0.45}\;{{\rm cm}^{ - 1}}$0.45cm^-1 over this range.