Extremely Uniform, Very Low Absorption Coatings for Large Aperature Optics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Surface Optics Corporation awarded SBIR for Extremely Uniform, Very Low Absorption Coatings for Large Aperature Optics

San Diego, CA (November 2002)

Emerging laser weapon systems require extremely uniform, defect free, coatings applied to optics in excess of 1-meter in diameter. Multilayer dielectric coatings have been developed to provide high reflectivity and very low absorption for high power laser beams. However, many of the best theoretical coating designs currently cannot be effectively manufactured because of the inability to precisely control the thickness of individual coating layers. Surface Optics Corporation (SOC), in conjunction with Schafer Corporation, propose to demonstrate a very low absorption (VLA) coating process capable of achieving extreme uniformity (< 1% thickness variation) for mirrors up to 2.5 meters in diameter. The proposed innovation combines Surface Optics' 3.3-meter in-situ, motion-controlled coating chamber with Schafer's masking and thin film design capabilities. This innovation would create a unique capability in the United States, and would not require capital investment, as all of the manufacturing components are currently operational. Schafer Corporation is recognized for pioneering VLA coating technology for chemical lasers. By employing Schafer's mask design technology with SOC's motion controlled evaporation system, coating designs that require less than 1% film uniformity can be created on large substrates, for the most demanding high power laser applications.

About Surface Optics
Surface Optics Corporation (SOC) is a 23-year-old, employee owned company based in San Diego, CA. Building upon quantitative optical signature analysis, SOC is known throughout the globe for its BRDF technology, spectral and spatial characterization of materials, high-fidelity multispectral/hyperspectral modeling and simulation of targets and backgrounds (UV through radar), optical measurement services, instrumentation design and manufacture, and coatings design and application. For more information on SOC's Coating Technologies, please visit our Coatings Page, call us at 858-675-7404, or send e-mail to David Sheikh.

Surface Optics Corporation 11555 Rancho Bernardo Rd. San Diego, CA 92127
Phone: 858.675.7404 Fax: 858.675.2028