Abstract: A high-performance optical surface includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a first anti-reflection (A/R) coating formed on the second surface of the substrate; a coated layer formed over the A/R coating on a surface of the A/R coating opposite to the stress compensation layer, where a surface of the coating layer opposite to the first A/R coating is diamond point turned or polished to improve finish; and a second A/R coating formed on the polished surface of the coating layer to formed the high-performance reflective surface.

Abstract: A high-performance optical surface includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a first anti-reflection (A/R) coating formed on the second surface of the substrate; a coated layer formed over the A/R coating on a surface of the A/R coating opposite to the stress compensation layer, where a surface of the coating layer opposite to the first A/R coating is diamond point turned or polished to improve finish; and a second A/R coating formed on the polished surface of the coating layer to formed the high-performance reflective surface.

Abstract: An optical thin film stack for a dark aperture is deposited using thermal ion-assisted deposition (“IAD”). The IAD provides an energetic deposition of chromium and chromium oxide that results in a dark mirror optical thin film stack with superior etch properties. Edge definition is improved, and the edge profile is controllable by the selection of IAD parameters. An in situ IAD cleaning process can be used to clean the substrate sufficiently so that an intermediate adhesion layer of chromium is not required.

Abstract: An optical thin film stack provides reflection of essentially all light except for a selected amount of transmission over a selected wavelength range. Reflecting, rather than absorbing, unwanted light avoids heating caused by light absorption and allows productive use of the non-transmitted light in some applications. In some embodiments, reflector designs are “stacked” on an optical substrate to provide serial optical reflectors. Stacking dichroic filters provides reduced sensitivity to cone angle and manufacturing advantages.

Abstract: An optical thin film stack for a dark aperture is deposited using thermal ion-assisted deposition (“IAD”). The IAD provides an energetic deposition of chromium and chromium oxide that results in a dark mirror optical thin film stack with superior etch properties. Edge definition is improved, and the edge profile is controllable by the selection of IAD parameters. An in situ IAD cleaning process can be used to clean the substrate sufficiently so that an intermediate adhesion layer of chromium is not required.

Abstract: The present invention describes an optical interference coating useful for transmitting visible radiation and reflecting infrared radiation. The coating is formed from a series of interleaved stacks. The interleaved stacks require only two materials, one having a low index of refraction (L) and the second having a high index of refraction (H). The interleaved stack is made from a first stack of the form (L/a bH L/a) and a second stack of the form (H/a bL H/a). The interleaved stack includes one or more of the combined first stack and second stack in the form [(L/a bH L/a) (H/a bL H/a)]. A stack of the form (L/a bH L/a) is placed on one side of the interleaved stacks to achieve symmetry. The complete visible transmitting and infrared reflecting coating is made from two interleaved stack centered at different wavelength and a third quarterwave stack of the form (L/2 H L/2) centered at a third wavelength. Each interleaved stack and quarterwave stack includes one or more layers.