Abstract: An optical element (10) is provided with a coating so as to selectively pass spectral lines of interest. The element includes a substrate (14) having a first major surface and a second, opposite major surface. The element further includes a coating, preferably a rugate coating (12), formed upon at least one of the major surfaces. The rugate coating has a spatially varying index of refraction profile through a depth thereof. The profile is selected so as to provide the element with a prescribed dispersion characteristic that matches a dispersion characteristic of a source of the radiation signal.