Optical Quartz Glass | JGS1 JGS2 JGS3 Fused Silica Optics Manufacturer
FGQuartz manufactures high-transmission optical quartz glass in JGS1, JGS2 and JGS3 grades for UV, visible and near-infrared applications. Our optical fused silica products include precision windows, optical flats, plates, lens blanks, prisms, viewports, cuvettes and custom CNC optics used in laser systems, spectroscopy, semiconductor process monitoring and scientific instruments.
Why Optical Quartz Glass (Fused Silica)
Optical quartz glass, also known as fused silica, is the preferred material when ordinary optical glasses reach their limits. It offers an exceptionally wide transmission range from deep ultraviolet through the visible spectrum into the near-infrared, combined with very low thermal expansion, high laser damage threshold, excellent chemical durability and high homogeneity.
These properties make optical fused silica indispensable for high-performance laser optics, UV lithography, spectroscopic instruments, semiconductor process windows and precision optical systems that demand both optical clarity and thermal stability.
JGS1, JGS2 and JGS3 Optical Grades
FGQuartz supplies optical quartz glass in the three standard Chinese grades, each optimized for different spectral ranges:
JGS1 (Deep-UV Grade)
Excellent transmission from approximately 185 nm through the visible and into the near-IR. Very low bubble and inclusion content. Preferred for deep-UV optics, excimer laser systems, UV lithography and high-precision UV instruments. Comparable to Heraeus Suprasil and Corning 7980 UV grades.
JGS2 (UV–Visible Grade)
Good transmission from about 220 nm across the visible spectrum. Cost-effective choice for general optical windows, optical flats, microscope slides and laboratory optics where deep-UV performance is not required.
JGS3 (Infrared Grade)
Optimized for broader IR transmission with lower OH absorption. Suitable for infrared optical systems, thermal imaging and applications spanning UV to IR.
Optical Quartz Glass Product Range
Optical Windows & Flats
Precision fused silica windows and optical flats with controlled flatness, parallelism and surface quality. Available in JGS1, JGS2 and JGS3 for laser, viewing and protective applications.
Optical Plates & Substrates
High-purity quartz plates and substrates for optical instruments, semiconductor process monitoring, laser systems and high-temperature viewing ports.
Lens Blanks & Prisms
Optical-grade fused silica blanks for lenses, prisms and custom optical elements. Suitable for further polishing and coating by optical fabricators.
Viewports & Observation Windows
High-temperature and vacuum viewports that combine optical transmission with thermal and mechanical reliability for process chambers and furnaces.
Cuvettes & Optical Cells
UV-grade quartz cuvettes and flow cells for spectroscopic analysis, offering high transmission in the ultraviolet and excellent chemical resistance.
Custom Optical Components
CNC-machined and polished fused silica optics manufactured to customer drawings, including complex shapes, drilled windows and coated components.
Core Applications of Optical Quartz Glass
- Laser & Photonic Systems — Excimer lasers, Nd:YAG systems, harmonic generation, beam delivery and high-power laser windows
- UV Lithography & Semiconductor — Process monitoring windows, inspection optics and UV optical components
- Spectroscopy & Analytical Instruments — Cuvettes, flow cells, optical windows and sample cells for UV-Vis and IR analysis
- Scientific Research — Precision optics for laboratories, universities and R&D facilities
- High-Temperature Viewing — Observation windows and viewports for furnaces and process equipment
- UV Lighting & Curing — Envelopes and windows for UV lamps and photochemical systems
Key Advantages of FGQuartz Optical Quartz
- Wide spectral transmission from deep UV to near-IR
- JGS1, JGS2 and JGS3 grades available to match application requirements
- High laser damage threshold and excellent thermal stability
- Low bubble and inclusion content for optical clarity
- Very low thermal expansion for dimensional stability
- Excellent chemical resistance
- Precision polishing and optional AR/HR coatings
- Custom sizes and complex geometries via CNC machining
Manufacturing Capabilities for Optical Quartz
Precision Cutting & Grinding
Accurate sizing of optical blanks and plates with controlled thickness and edge quality.
Optical Polishing
Surface finishing from commercial polish to precision optical quality, supporting flatness and surface quality requirements for demanding applications.
CNC Machining & Custom Fabrication
Complex shapes, drilled windows, stepped components and custom geometries produced to drawing, with optional coating support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about optical quartz glass grades, transmission performance and custom optics.
Fused silica works across a very wide laser wavelength range. For UV lasers: ArF excimer at 193 nm, KrF excimer at 248 nm, XeCl excimer at 308 nm, and Nd:YAG fourth harmonic at 266 nm (all requiring JGS1 grade). For visible and NIR lasers: Nd:YAG third harmonic at 355 nm, second harmonic at 532 nm, and fundamental at 1064 nm; and telecom lasers at 1310 nm and 1550 nm (JGS2 for NIR applications). For CO₂ lasers at 10.6 µm, fused silica is not transparent — ZnSe, germanium, or other mid-infrared materials must be used instead.
Yes. FGQuartz accepts formal drawings in DXF, STEP, or IGES format and also works from dimensioned sketches, photographs of sample parts, or verbal descriptions of the required optical function. For new designs, the FGQuartz engineering team produces a manufacturing drawing for customer approval before production begins. Prototype quantities starting from a single piece are accepted with no minimum order requirement on custom components.
FGQuartz manufactures UV and optical windows in standard and custom geometries; plano-convex, plano-concave, and cylindrical lenses; right-angle, equilateral, Dove, and Porro prisms; mirror blanks and etalon substrates; optical flats and reference surfaces; UV cuvettes and spectroscopy flow cells in standard and custom path lengths; UV lamp envelopes and discharge tube bodies; optical rods and line diffusers; ICP plasma torch tube assemblies; and fully custom CNC-machined optical assemblies from customer drawings. The same facility also manufactures structural quartzware, so mixed orders can be fulfilled from a single source.
JGS1 is a synthetic high-OH fused silica with the deepest UV transmission, produced by flame hydrolysis of a silicon precursor. The high hydroxyl content enables good transmission at wavelengths below 250 nm, making it the standard for excimer laser optics, deep-UV spectroscopy, and germicidal UV applications. The trade-off is a near-infrared absorption feature around 2.7 µm from the OH groups. JGS2 is natural fused silica with much lower OH content, providing good transmission from approximately 260 nm through to beyond 2.5 µm and lower near-infrared absorption. JGS2 is the standard for Nd:YAG laser optics, telecom wavelength components, NIR spectroscopy, and general-purpose visible optics. FGQuartz stocks both grades and advises on grade selection based on the operating wavelength.
Fused silica transmits deep ultraviolet light at wavelengths where standard optical glasses are completely opaque. Its transmission window extends from approximately 150 nm in the deep UV through the visible spectrum and into the near infrared — a breadth that no common optical glass matches. Standard borosilicate glass becomes opaque below approximately 300 nm, ruling it out for germicidal UV, excimer laser systems, and deep-UV spectroscopy. Combined with very low chromatic dispersion, exceptional resistance to laser-induced damage, near-zero thermal expansion, and high chemical purity, fused silica is the default choice for any optical system that must function below 300 nm or that will be exposed to high-power laser radiation.