How Zygo Delivers High-Performance Optics From An Unmatched Range Of Substrates

By Justin E. Turner, Division Vice-President (Optics), Zygo

When optical performance, thermal stability, and durability are non-negotiable, material selection becomes the foundation of success—not an afterthought. True high-performance optics depend on the ability to work across a wide range of materials, each chosen to meet the demands of its environment.

While many optics manufacturers rely on standard substrates like fused silica or BK7, advanced facilities now routinely process complex materials such as germanium, sapphire, silicon carbide, ZERODUR®, CLEARCERAM®, and ALON. Each brings unique strengths—whether enabling infrared imaging, surviving launch stresses in orbit, or maintaining nanometer-level stability in semiconductor applications.

Capabilities span infrared materials like ZnSe and silicon; zero-expansion ceramics for wafer stages; and multispectral materials such as ZnS and ClearTran®, vital for aerospace and defense optics balancing performance with SWaP (size, weight, and power) goals. Other specialty substrates include fragile fluorides (CaF₂, MgF₂, BaF₂), ultra-hard ceramics like sapphire, and engineered materials such as Cordierite, Spinel, and silicon carbide—each optimized for demanding optical, mechanical, or thermal requirements.

A truly material-agnostic approach ensures that every optical window, mirror, or component is matched precisely to its function rather than limited by manufacturing constraints. Supported by advanced metrology, cleanroom manufacturing, and deep engineering expertise, this approach delivers optics that perform with exceptional precision, even in extreme environments.

From ultraviolet to infrared, from laboratory systems to orbital platforms, these optics are designed not just to perform—but to endure.