Aerospace: Sensors for aircraft and spacecraft. Many applications in the aerospace field require high-end materials, and many aircraft and spacecraft are equipped with a large number of sensors that use optics to detect, track, or identify situations. Light is analyzed using a spectrometer, and the sensor may require a simple transmissive window that allows ultraviolet to near-infrared radiation to pass through. They should be able to withstand harsh environments, withstand shocks, be lightweight, and have a long service life.
Astronomy: Used for key components of telescopes. Fused quartz is used in telescopes. Depending on the working wavelength range, quartz is used as a telescope's reflective optics (reflector) or transmission optics (lens / beamsplitter). The main application bands are infrared and visible light. Fused silica with low absorption, ultra-low uniform thermal expansion coefficient, no bubbles, radiation resistance and low impurities is required.
Laser nuclear technology and laser processing: for inertial confinement fusion research. The most demanding application for high-energy lasers is inertial confinement fusion research. The technology uses lasers that need to operate with short pulses that last from nanoseconds to femtoseconds and picoseconds. Materials need to withstand total output energy in the near infrared and ultraviolet bands up to the megajoule level. Optical systems used in nuclear fusion applications require large-bore (300–400mm +) fused silica blanks to be used as lenses or windows. The required fused silica requires low absorption and good optical uniformity. The materials needed are extremely pure.
Semiconductor lithography: used for mask preparation. Synthetic fused silica has good deep ultraviolet light transmittance and low absorptivity, so it does not appear image defects caused by material absorption and temperature rise, and is used in lithographic masks. It has excellent optical 3D uniformity (low refractive index change) and durability to ultraviolet radiation.
Commercial optics: Quartz can be used in a variety of industrial fields such as metallurgy and chemical industry.