Why dielectric coatings instead of metal?
Metal mirrors have long been the standard for general-purpose broadband high reflectors, but they have several significant limitations which make them a poor match for many of todays laser applications. Although inexpensive upfront, drawbacks of metal mirrors include susceptibility to both laser damage and mechanical abrasions, tarnishing or surface degradation, and poor adhesion. Over the lifetime of an optic or optical system, increased reflectivity and durability could result in improved performance and cost savings. PPCs broadband dielectric IBS coating covers a broad wavelength range (3501100 nm) with >99% reflectivity, independent of both angle and polarization. Our high-energy ion-beam-sputtering (IBS) process results in durable, dense dielectric films that have superior reflective and mechanical properties in addition to being easy to clean, scratch resistant and insensitive to environmental changes. With high damage thresholds and low scatter and absorption coefficients, they
