Abstract: In a hearth liner wherein an evaporation material is adhered to a substrate to form an optical thin film thereon, the present invention is directed to prevent bumping (splashing) when the evaporation material is irradiated by an electron beam from an electron gun to melt and vaporize thereof. A hearth liner of a vacuum evaporation apparatus wherein the electron beam from the electron gun is irradiated on the evaporation material to form an optical thin film on a substrate, wherein the cross-section shape of an evaporation material storage part of the hearth liner is a shallow semicircular (spherical) shape (bowl shape).

Abstract: Optical thin-films are disclosed that are formed from optical thin films formed on a base plate arranged in a vacuum chamber. The base plates are held on a plurality of retaining frames of a base-plate retainer. The thin films are formed by heating the base plate and emitting a deposition material from a deposition source. The retaining frames are configured to make the entire base plate uniformly heated.

Abstract: Optical multilayer thin-film filters (OMTFFs) are disclosed. An exemplary filter includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer film (MF) on a surface of the substrate, and a top layer. The MF is of alternatingly laminated layers of a high-refractive-index (HRI) material and a low-refractive-index (LRI) material. The top layer is on an uppermost layer of the MF and is of a material having atoms of lower atomic weight than atoms of either the HRI or LRI materials. The OMTFFs are made in a vacuum environment by alternatingly laminating respective thin films of the HRI and LRI materials on the substrate. The top layer is formed on the MF. Between forming the MF and top layer is a suppression step in which the newly formed MF is exposed to moisture by briefly venting the vacuum to atmosphere. The moisture inhibits migration of the low-molecular-weight atoms into the HRI and LRI materials.

Abstract: Optical multilayer thin-film filters (OMTFFs) are disclosed. An exemplary filter includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer film (MF) on a surface of the substrate, and a top layer. The MF is of alternatingly laminated layers of a high-refractive-index (HRI) material and a low-refractive-index (LRI) material. The top layer is on an uppermost layer of the MF and is of a material having atoms of lower atomic weight than atoms of either the HRI or LRI materials. The OMTFFs are made in a vacuum environment by alternatingly laminating respective thin films of the HRI and LRI materials on the substrate. The top layer is formed on the MF. Between forming the MF and top layer is a suppression step in which the newly formed MF is exposed to moisture by briefly venting the vacuum to atmosphere. The moisture inhibits migration of the low-molecular-weight atoms into the HRI and LRI materials.

Abstract: Optical thin-films are disclosed that are formed from optical thin films formed on a base plate arranged in a vacuum chamber. The base plates are held on a plurality of retaining frames of a base-plate retainer. The thin films are formed by heating the base plate and emitting a deposition material from a deposition source. The retaining frames are configured to make the entire base plate uniformly heated.

Abstract: Optical thin-film-forming methods are disclosed that form optical thin film on a base plate arranged in a vacuum chamber. An exemplary method includes the steps of retaining the base plates on a plurality of retaining frames of a base-plate retainer, heating the base plate, and emitting a deposition material from a deposition source. The retaining frames are configured to make the entire base plate uniformly heated.

Abstract: Optical multilayer thin-film filters (OMTFFs) are disclosed. An exemplary filter includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer film (MF) on a surface of the substrate, and a top layer. The MF is of alternatingly laminated layers of a high-refractive-index (HRI) material and a low-refractive-index (LRI) material. The top layer is on an uppermost layer of the MF and is of a material having atoms of lower atomic weight than atoms of either the HRI or LRI materials. The OMTFFs are made in a vacuum environment by alternatingly laminating respective thin films of the HRI and LRI materials on the substrate. The top layer is formed on the MF. Between forming the MF and top layer is a suppression step in which the newly formed MF is exposed to moisture by briefly venting the vacuum to atmosphere. The moisture inhibits migration of the low-molecular-weight atoms into the HRI and LRI materials.

Abstract: Optical thin-film-forming methods are disclosed that form optical thin film on a base plate arranged in a vacuum chamber. An exemplary method includes the steps of retaining the base plates on a plurality of retaining frames of a base-plate retainer, heating the base plate, and emitting a deposition material from a deposition source. The retaining frames are configured to make the entire base plate uniformly heated.