Rugged Packaging of Laser Optics

The program will emphasize contamination control and the testing of candidate protective, low-maintenance coatings for high-energy laser optics.Coatings will be screened for adherence, environmental durability, and optical properties. The most promising approaches will be applied to laser optical components, and tested. Specifications and conceptual designs will be generated for the mostsuccessful coating process and associated deposition and substrate handling equipment. The availability of robust packaging methods for coated optical components will have benefits in many areas of application for lasers, including material processing systems, LIDAR systems, and aerospace systems. Many non-optical commercial applicationswill be served in data storage, wear and friction reducing coatings, microelectromechanical devices, microelectronics manufacture, displays, and ophthalmics.