Abstract: Sputtering is performed using a sputtering system having a sputtering source having a sputtering medium, a sputtering target positioned so as to be impinged upon by the sputtering medium of the sputtering source, wherein the sputtering target comprises a mass of a first loose granular material, and an open-top vessel in which the mass of the first loose granular material of the sputtering target is received and positioned so that the first loose granular material does not fall out of the open-top vessel by gravity. Some of the first loose granular material is sputtered from the sputtering target, a quantity of a second loose granular material is added to the mass of the first loose granular material in the open-top vessel, and thereafter some of the second loose granular material is sputtered from the sputtering target.

Abstract: An air-gap optical structure includes a first transmissive optical element, a second transmissive optical element, and a spacer structure disposed between the first transmissive optical element and the second transmissive optical element so as to define an air gap therebetween. The spacer structure includes a spacer having a spacer body, and a nonreflective multilayer interference coating between the spacer body and the second transmissive optical element.

Abstract: An optical system includes a reflection-angle-selective mirror having a substrate, and a reflection-angle-selective coating structure deposited on the substrate. The reflection-angle-selective coating structure has a higher reflectance for light that is incident upon the reflection-angle-selective coating structure at a first incidence angle within an acceptance-angle deviation from a design incidence angle than for light that is incident upon the reflection-angle-selective coating structure at a second incidence angle greater than the acceptance-angle deviation from the design incidence angle. The optical system may also include a light source.

Abstract: A projection display includes a light source, a spatial light modulator that receives a light from the light source, and an angle-selective coating disposed to receive the light beam from the spatial light modulator. The angle-selective coating is oriented at a non-zero inclination angle to the light beam. The angle-selective coating has a higher transmission for light that is incident upon the angle-selective coating at an incidence angle within an acceptance-angle deviation from a design incidence angle, than for light that is incident upon the angle-selective coating at an incidence angle greater than the acceptance-angle deviation from the design incidence angle. The projection display preferably includes a TIR (total internal reflection) prism disposed to reflect a light beam from the light source to the spatial light modulator, and to receive the light beam from the spatial light modulator. The angle-selective coating is preferably buried within the TIR prism.