Narrow Band, High Reflectivity Optical Elements in the Infrared

High efficiency narrowband infrared reflectors are being considered for applications in optical communications, remote sensing, optical limiting and laser hardening. In order to protect space-based sensors without diminishing the capabilities of thesecomponents, it is necessary to reflect impinging optical beams at threat wavelengths while supporting high optical transmission at detection wavelengths. This program will develop a new technology which will provide electrically tunable rugate mirrors,i.e. rugate mirrors which use ion intercalation to change the refractive indexes of the layers resulting in an electronically controllable shift in the reflected wavelength. Phase I will test the feasibility of fabricating a rugate mirror using materialsthat are expected to be ionorefractive. Phase II will further develop the rugate mirror fabrication and develop their ionorefractive wavelength tuning capabilities. Anticipated benefit of this SBIR is the fabrication of a rugate mirror that meets therequirements and has the possibility of being tuned using a small electrical voltage.With reflectivities higher than can be obtained with gratings, narrow-band filters will have a very widespread use in a variety of military and commercial applications in infrared sensors.