Dual-Band Electro-Optic (EO)/Infrared (IR) Multifunctional Pod Windows

Increasingly missions are turning to EO/IR operation requiring windows with large spectral bandpass. This large bandpass coupled with the size of the required window substrates has necessarily limited the choice of materials. Calcium Flouride is generallychosen, however it has the undesirable property that it tends to scratch quite easily. In this proposal we will discuss a proprietary method of manufacturing large POD windows made from Sapphire Substrates which are much harder while simultaneouslyoffering equivalent or better optical performance. The result of the research discussed here will be the routine production of far superior windows leading to much longer field lifetimes and lower program cost.