THIN-FILM COATINGS: Military laser technologies challenge optical-coating manufacturers

摘要

Optical coatings for military applications often need to simultaneously satisfy many extreme requirements; coating manufacturers have responded with an array of design and fabrication approaches. Optical coatings for military applications present a particularly demanding set of requirements for the thin-film manufacturer, usually revolving around exceptional optical performance in particularly harsh environments. These can include high laser damage threshold, wide angular acceptance, excellent performance at several widely spaced wavelengths, low wavefront distortion, spectral stability in the presence of large swings in temperature and humidity, and good mechanical durability.