Narrow Band, High Reflectivity Optical Elements in the Infrared

Fabrication of far infrared notch filters requires development of a filter that is ten times thicker than our current near-infrared filters. Rugate Technologies proposes to improve upon its capability in infrared filter fabrication through incorporatingmultiple design techniques, materials research, process development, and incorporating novel optical monitoring techniques into our already automated deposition system. In Phase I, we will develop and demonstrate the fundamental processes, materials, andmonitoring required to produce these filters. We will fabricate laser mirrors of 4, 3, and 2% bandwidth on flat substrates with edge-to-edge uniformity of better than 1/4 of the bandwidth of the filter notch. Narrow band, highly reflective opticalfilters developed for the infrared spectral region will offer enormous performance benefits in several critical areas. Many military sensors that combine laser-based range finding and targeting, with infrared imaging will directly benefit. The resultswill be applied to hyperspectral imaging and commercial applications such as radiometry, tunable laser sources, laser chemistry, and laser spectroscopy.