Overview:

• For optical coupling of fibers and optical components. They reduce or eliminate internal reflection, raising light transmission; their refractive index and dispersion resemble many glasses and optical plastics, and closely match fused silica.
• As a mode-stripping gel. Applied to the cladding of a silica fiber, it removes the cladding signal. Useful when evaluating fiber systems: using a short fiber length strips the short-distance cladding-carried signal so the detector records only the core-propagated signal. Faster and simpler than mechanically stripping the cladding, and non-destructive.
• Optical Gel 0608/nD1.46 mainly matches the refractive index of fused silica and BK-7 glass, but also works for other glasses.

Main uses of Cargille Optical Gel 0608/nD1.46:
Optical coupling use:
Cargille Optical Gel 0608/nD1.46 has two main uses. First, optical coupling of fibers and optical components: it reduces or eliminates internal reflection, raising light transmission; its refractive index and dispersion resemble many glasses and optical plastics, and closely match fused silica.
Mode-stripping use:
Second, as a mode-stripping gel. Applied to the cladding of a silica fiber, it removes the cladding signal. Useful when evaluating fiber systems: using a short fiber length strips the short-distance cladding-carried signal so the detector records only the core-propagated signal. Faster and simpler than mechanically stripping the cladding, and non-destructive.
Properties:
These optical gels have several desirable properties. They are transparent to near-UV, visible and near-IR radiation; no other known liquid, gel or grease offers better light transmission.
They are highly temperature-stable: freezing point below -67 C, boiling point above 400 C, so the refractive index is more stable than other liquid, gel or grease couplings.
Optical Gel 0608/nD1.46 is specially designed not to diffuse in water, for applications needing immersion without diffusion or change.
Besides Optical Gel 0608/nD1.46, Optical Gel nD1.46/Code 0607 is also available; the latter is water-insoluble but designed to disperse when immersed, for easy cleaning.
Optical Gel nD1.46/Code 0607 and 0608 are nearly identical optically and chemically, both used to couple fibers and other optical parts and for mode stripping. Optical Gel nD1.46/Code 0607 is a lower-viscosity gel; when placed, 0607 usually looks fluid on the surface, while 0608 appears much less flowable.

Technical Specifications:

Storage:

Store in original container at room temperature (5-22 C); shelf life 36 months.