Use of BeO in middle-infrared lasers

An experimental investigation was made of the infrared reflection spectra, of the temperature dependence of the absorptivity in the 10 μ range, and of the optical strength in air on exposure to pulsed CO₂ laser radiation for three beryllium-oxide-based dielectrics: a BeO single crystal, a semitransparent BeO ceramic containing a small amount of lithium oxide, and a nontransparent BeO ceramic. In addition, for a BeO single crystal, two zones were observed having different mechanisms of formation of surface periodic structures on exposure to pulsed CO₂ laser radiation. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that BeO is potentially useful for the use in quantum-electronics devices operating in the middle-infrared.