Silicon-based vacuum window for millimeter- and submillimeter-wave astrophysics

Journal Article (2026)
Author(s)

Ryota Takaku (University of Tokyo, Okayama University)

Scott Cray (University of Minnesota)

Kosuke Aizawa (University of Tokyo)

Akira Endo (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)

Shaul Hanany (University of Minnesota)

Kenichi Karatsu (SRON–Netherlands Institute for Space Research)

Jürgen Koch (Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.)

Kuniaki Konishi (University of Tokyo)

Tomotake Matsumura (University of Tokyo International Research Laboratory, University of Tokyo)

Haruyuki Sakurai (University of Tokyo)

Research Group
Tera-Hertz Sensing
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.591873 Final published version
More Info
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Publication Year
2026
Language
English
Research Group
Tera-Hertz Sensing
Journal title
Applied Optics
Issue number
14
Volume number
65
Pages (from-to)
4579-4587
Downloads counter
3
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Abstract

We designed, fabricated, and characterized the properties of a silicon-based vacuum window suitable for millimeter-wave astrophysical applications. The window, which has a diameter of 124 mm, an optically usable diameter of 68 mm, and a thickness of about 4 mm, gives an average transmittance and reflectance of 99.6 ± 3.5% and 1.3 ± 1.4%, respectively, a fractional bandwidth of 67%, centered at 300 GHz. Absorptive loss is below the detection limit of our measurement. The anti-reflection coating is made with laser-ablated sub-wavelength structures (SWS), and the measured transmittance and reflectance values agree with the modeling based on the measured SWS shapes. The window has been integrated into DESHIMA 2.0, an astrophysics instrument that took year-long observations with the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment.

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