Abstract:
An optical element includes an optical block constructed of a first material having a % transmission of at least 50% throughout a spectral range of 300 nm to 2700 nm through at least a thickness of the optical block. The optical block comprises a surface. A grating layer constructed of a second material is disposed on the surface of the optical block, the grating layer comprising a first surface that is directly in contact with the surface of the optical block and a second surface comprising a plurality of diffraction features forming a diffraction grating.
Abstract:
A highly reflective mirror for use in the wavelength range of 0.300 μm to 15 μm includes a substrate, a first interface layer, a reflective layer, a second interface layer, a plurality of tuning layers including a combination of a low index material and a high index material wherein the high index material is HfO2, and a protective layer. The highly reflective mirror has a reflectivity of at least 90% over the wavelength range of 335 nm to 1000 nm at an angle of incidence (AOI) of 45°.
Abstract:
According to one embodiment, a method for producing a coated glass article may include applying an anti-reflective coating onto a glass substrate. The glass substrate may include a first major surface, and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. The anti-reflective coating may be applied to the first major surface of the glass substrate. A substrate thickness may be measured between the first major surface and the second major surface. The glass substrate may have an aspect ratio of at least about 100:1. The coated glass article may have a reflectance of less than 2% for all wavelengths from 450 nanometers to 700 nanometers. The anti-reflective coating may include one or more layers. The cumulative layer stress of the anti-reflective coating may have an absolute value less than or equal to about 167,000 MPa nm.
Abstract:
A low density substrate material for reflecting optics. The substrate material is a magnesium alloy or composite material that is capable of being finished by diamond turning to form an optically smooth surface with low root-mean-square roughness. The finish quality of the diamond-turned surface is sufficiently good to permit use of the magnesium material as a substrate for a reflecting optic without further processing. The magnesium substrate material contains at least 80 wt % Mg and may also include Al, Si and/or other elements. The density of the magnesium substrate material is much lower than the density of current Al alloy substrate materials.
Abstract:
An optical element can include a substrate comprising a Group VIA or fluoride-based non-oxide material and an adhesion layer disposed directly on the substrate. An anti-reflective coating stack is disposed directly on the adhesion layer. Methods for forming an optical element are also provided. The density and stress of the adhesion layer and layers of the anti-reflective coating stack are controlled to provide corrosion-resistant coatings on Group VIA or fluoride-based non-oxide substrates. Preferred substrate materials are materials that exhibit high transparency in the infrared.
Abstract:
An optical element that features high transmission and low reflectivity at infrared wavelengths is described. The optical element includes a substrate, an adhesion layer on the substrate, and an anti-reflection coating. Substrates include chalcogenide glasses, InAs, and GaAs. Adhesion layers include Se, ZnSe, Ga2Se3, Bi2Se3, In2Se3, ZnS, Ga2S3 and In2S3. Anti-reflection coatings include one or more layers of DLC (diamond-like carbon), ZnS, ZnSe, Ge, Si, HfO2, Bi2O3, GdF3, YbF3, In2Se3, and YF3. The optical elements show high durability and good adhesion when subjected to thermal shocks, temperature cycling, abrasion, and humidity.
Abstract:
A method for coating substrates is provided. The method includes diamond turning a substrate to a surface roughness of between about 60 Å and about 100 Å RMS, wherein the substrate is one of a metal and a metal alloy. The method further includes polishing the diamond turned surface of the substrate to a surface roughness of between about 10 Å and about 25 Å to form a polished substrate, heating the polished substrate, and ion bombarding the substrate with an inert gas. The method includes depositing a coating including at least one metallic layer on the ion bombarded surface of the substrate using low pressure magnetron sputtering, and polishing the coating to form a finished surface having a surface roughness of less than about 25 Å RMS using a glycol based colloidal solution.
Abstract:
An optical element based on a graphite substrate is provided. The optical element may be a reflective element and may include a finishing layer, adhesion layer, and/or galvanic compatibility layer. Finishing layers include Ni and Si and provide a surface that can be processed to a low finish to support a reflective layer or reflective stack. Graphite substrates are light weight, are amenable to diamond turning and can be machined to near net shape, have low coefficients of thermal expansion to enable operation over wide temperature ranges, and have high chemical stability.
Abstract:
The disclosure is directed to optical elements including a performance-enhancing coating on the surface of a metal or ceramic substrate and to methods for making the optical elements. The optical elements are suitable for use in harsh environments, including salt fog and high humidity environments. The performance-enhancing coating and substrate have similar thermal expansion properties and the performance-enhancing coating has a diamond-turned surface. The performance-enhancing coating may also be polished with a solution of colloidal silica in glycol to an RMS surface roughness less than 30 Å.
Abstract:
The disclosure is directed to a highly reflective multiband mirror that is reflective in the VIS-NIR-SWIR-MWIR-LWIR bands, the mirror being a complete thin film stack that consists of a plurality of layers on a selected substrate. In order from substrate to the final layer, the mirror consists of (a) substrate, (b) barrier layer, (c) first interface layer, (d) a reflective layer, (e) a second interface layer, (f) tuning layer(s) and (g) a protective layer. In some embodiments the tuning layer and the protective layer are combined into a single layer using a single coating material. The multiband mirror is more durable than existing mirrors on light weight metal substrates, for example 6061-Al, designed for similar applications. In each of the five layer types methods and materials are used to process each layer so as to achieve the desired layer characteristics, which aid to enhancing the durability performance of the stack.