Internal Antireflection Coatings for Aerodynamic Missile Domes

Surface Optics Corporation (SOC) has demonstrated the feasibility of using physical vapor deposition (PVD) for application of multilayer optical antireflection coatings (ARC) to the interior surface of tangent ogive infrared missile domes. Under Phase I, SOC demonstrated an approach for PVD evaporant plume shaping using an adaptive mask between PVD source and ogive substrate that enables controlled and predictable deposition of antireflection coatings with controlled thickness profiles. Phase II technical objectives will focus on optimization of gradient thickness ARC designs for next generation ceramic dome materials of interest to NAVAIR, and construction of an automated PVD process fixture that will support ARC deposition on the interior and exterior of ogive dome geometries.