Absorption Coefficient of Molten Aluminum Oxide in Semitransparent Spectral Range

A critical compilation and analysis of all the available experimental data and approximation formulas for the wavelength and temperature dependences of the absorption coefficient of molten aluminum oxide in semitransparent region are presented. The main factors and the influence of physicochemical processes on the value of the absorption coefficient are considered. Special attention is focused on possible reasons for large values of absorption of the alumina melt as compared to the crystal near melting temperature. It is shown that the available data can be divided into two groups, according to the level of absorption. The first group includes the results of the research of optical properties of solid propellant combustion products, and the second group–the results of the research of single crystal melts and some other high-purity molten aluminum oxides. Along with the detailed analysis of the absorption coefficient, also a brief analysis of available data on the refractive index has been done.