High quality optical coatings are one of the foci of the group „Coatings“

Load Lock chamber of Ion Beam Sputter plant

Readily mounted and qualified optical component for space applications

Optical components for astronomical applications

Work of the group focusses on:

• Development and manufacturing of coating systems for optical and sensoric applications
• Coating systems with physical thicknesses from only a few nanometers up to 100 µm. Physical Vapor Deposition processes are used as deposition process
  • Thermal evaporation , respectively electron beam evaporation processes
  • Ion assisted deposition (IAD)
  • Ion beam sputtering (IBS)
  • DC and RF sputtering processes
• Rapid transfer of research results into applications in laser systems, metrology system or projection displays, etc.
• Realization of di-electrical systems based on discrete refraction indices and gradient systems (Rugate filters)

Current scientific work and projects:

• Development of coating systems with complex optical functions and lowest loss levels for laser applications
• Optimization and development of stable polarization couplers and wavelength couplers for narrow band multiplexing in diode laser systems
• Investigations and development of coating configurations for use in joining technologies, based on metallized soldering systems, purely AFB bonding technologies and adapted gluing processes
• Production and qualification of optics for use in space
• Development of radiation resistant coating systems for FEL lasers within the wavelength range of 150-200 nm
• Development and production of stress-optimized coatings with minimal wavefront errors for astronomical applications (E-ELT)
• Participation in an “Excimer mirror thin film laser damage competition” within the framework of the Annual Symposium on Optical Materials for High Power Lasers (September 2011)