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Published on: September 2, 2019
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Expansivity of Fused Quartz Glass Measured Within 6 × 10-10 K-1
1National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
International Journal of Thermophysics
|October 7, 2024
Summary
This study presents a novel method for measuring the thermal expansion coefficient of fused quartz glass using a Fabry-Perot cavity. Material inhomogeneity significantly impacts fused quartz thermal expansion, exceeding measurement uncertainty by 24 times.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optical Physics
- Metrology
Background:
- Accurate measurement of thermal expansion coefficient is crucial for materials used in precision optics and high-temperature applications.
- Fused quartz glass is a common material in optical components due to its low thermal expansion, but its homogeneity can vary.
- Existing measurement techniques may have limitations in precision or be affected by material properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a precise method for determining the thermal expansion coefficient of fused quartz glass.
- To quantify the measurement uncertainty associated with the proposed technique.
- To investigate the impact of material inhomogeneity on the thermal expansion coefficient of fused quartz.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Fabry-Perot cavity constructed from fused quartz glass.
- Monitored changes in the resonance frequency of the Fabry-Perot cavity as a function of temperature.
- Analyzed frequency shifts to calculate the thermal expansion coefficient, considering various uncertainty sources.
Main Results:
- Achieved a standard uncertainty in the thermal expansion coefficient measurement of less than 0.6 (nm·m-1)·K-1 (0.15%).
- Identified uncertainty in the temperature dependence of reflection phase-shift as a potential performance limitation.
- Observed significant material inhomogeneity in fused quartz, with inter-sample differences in thermal expansion being 24 times greater than the single-sample measurement uncertainty.
Conclusions:
- The developed Fabry-Perot resonance frequency method provides a highly accurate measurement of fused quartz thermal expansion.
- Material inhomogeneity is a critical factor affecting the effective thermal expansion coefficient of fused quartz, necessitating careful sample selection or averaging.
- Further improvements in measurement precision would require addressing uncertainties in thin-film coating properties and other contributing factors.
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