Novel Ceria-Based Materials for Low-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

65884 In the operation of compact plasma Wakefield accelerators, a filter is required to separate the laser beam from the electronic beam, and to provide electron beam diagnostics. Currently available technology does not permit the construction of suitably flat, ultrathin filters. This project will develop a higher performance filter by incorporating a relatively thin (~1mm) polyimide substrate, coated with both a metal layer and reflective dielectric stack. Advanced ultrathin film handling and mounting techniques will be used to obtain the required flatness. Phase I will determine the vacuum deposition parameters needed to produce stress-free SiO2 and Ta2O3 films with appropriate optical properties. The coating chamber will be configured to support production of multilayer stacks, and test filters will be constructed. Commercial Applications And Other Benefits as described by awardee: This marriage of existing multilayer technology with ultrathin substrate technology should result in a new level of performance for optical elements in many spectral regions.