Baumeister organizes this book around the key subjects associated with functions of optical thin film performance, and provides a valuable resource in the field of thin film technology. The information is widely backed up with citations to patents and published literature. The author draws from 25 years of experience teaching classes at the UCLA Extension Program, and at companies worldwide to answer questions, such as: what are the conventions for a given analysis formalism? and, what other design approaches have been tried for this application?
Optical coatings, i.e. multilayer stacks composed from a certain number of thin individual layers, are an essential part of any optical system necessary to tailor the properties of the optical surfaces. Hereby, the performance of any optical coating is defined by a well-balanced interplay between the properties of the individual coating materials and the geometrical parameters (such as film thickness) which define their arrangement. In all scientific books dealing with the performance of optical coatings, the main focus is on optimizing the geometrical coating parameters, particularly the number of individual layers and their thickness. At the same time, much less attention is paid to another degree of freedom in coating design, namely the possibility to tailor optical material properties to an optimum relevant for the required specification. This book, on the contrary, concentrates on the material aside of the problem. After a comprehensive review of the basics of thin film theory, traditional optical coating material properties and their relation to the efficiency of coating design methods, emphasis is placed on novel results concerning the application of material mixtures and nanostructured coatings in optical coating theory and practice, including porous layers, dielectric mixtures as well as metal island films for different applications.
Designed to give a concise but complete overview of the field, this book features contributions written by leading experts in the various areas. Topics include design, materials, film growth, deposition including large area, characterization and monitoring, and mechanical stress.
Thermal noise from optical coatings is a growing area of concern and overcoming limits to the sensitivity of high precision measurements by thermal noise is one of the greatest challenges faced by experimental physicists. In this timely book, internationally renowned scientists and engineers examine our current theoretical and experimental understanding. Beginning with the theory of thermal noise in mirrors and substrates, subsequent chapters discuss the technology of depositing coatings and state-of-the-art dielectric coating techniques used in precision measurement. Applications and remedies for noise reduction are also covered. Individual chapters are dedicated to specific fields where coating thermal noise is a particular concern, including the areas of quantum optics/optomechanics, gravitational wave detection, precision timing, high-precision laser stabilisation via optical cavities and cavity quantum electrodynamics. While providing full mathematical detail, the text avoids field-specific jargon, making it a valuable resource for readers with varied backgrounds in modern optics.
This Spotlight gives a general overview of the durability of optical coatings and various durability tests referring to available civilian and military standards and specifications. It will allow a quick detection of the coating testing durability requirements and test conditions in MIL-Specs and other standards or specifications according to requirements defined in the relevant drawings or coating specifications. Intended for optical designers, this Spotlight is also useful for optical coating inspectors.
Practical, user-oriented reference for engineers who must incorporate and specify coatings for filters, antiglare effects, polarization, or other purposes in optical or electro-optical systems design. It focuses on preparation techniques and characteristics of commercially available products and provides information needed to determine what type of filter is needed to solve a particular problem, what its limitations are, and how to care for it.
Sol-gel processing is a low temperature, low cost wet chemistry route to a range of different materials, particularly glassy and ceramic oxides, including nanoparticles and powders, fibers, thin films and membranes, or monoliths and composites. Thin films and coatings represent by far the most important category of sol-gel derived products with optical, electronic and magnetic functionalities, for example photoresist and dielectric spin-on-glass layers, flat screen displays, anti-reflection, conducting and magnetic disk coatings, as well as photochromic, electrochromic and photovoltaic coatings. Sol-gel derived materials are homogeneous at the molecular level and are a good example of a bottom-up approach to materials synthesis. There is increasing need of new optical and photonic materials with improved performance, where molecular level homogeneity and easy fabrication in film form may be especially convenient, highlighting a decisive advantage of sol-gel over other more established technologies to obtain graded index optical components, solar control coatings, phosphors, glass ceramics or multilayer photonic structures. There is no book available yet which focuses in particular on optical and photonic sol-gel derived materials. This is what makes this book unique at this point for those especially or exclusively interested in optical and photonic functional materials and applications. This book represents an important tool to update scientists and engineers with recent advances in the rapidly evolving field of optical and photonic materials, components and devices. Our target audience are those working in materials science, physics, engineering and chemistry disciplines, in particular academics and researchers working in advanced optical/photonic processing technologies, research and development engineers in high technology industries and research project leaders. This book will also be an essential tool for graduate students pursuing a PhD or even a Master's degree. Reviews wide range of sol-gel derived coatings including reflective and anti-reflective, self-cleaning, and electrochromic Discusses latest advances in sol-gel derived photonic crystals including one dimensional, two dimensional, and three dimensional structures Addresses key applications in solid state lighting, solar cells, sensors, fiber optics, and magneto-optical devices
Photonic structures occurring in biological tissues such as butterfly wings, beetle elytra or fish scales are responsible for a broad range of optical effects including iridescence, narrow-band reflection, large solid-angle scattering, polarization effects, additive color mixing, fluid-induced color changes, controlled fluorescence. Studies have provided understanding of the underlying optical mechanisms and the biological functions as well as inspiration for the design and development of novel photonic devices, also called bioinspiration. In this forward-thinking book, the research related to photonic structures in natural organisms is reviewed with a main foPhotonic structures occurring in biological tissues such as butterfly wings, beetle elytra, or fish scales are responsible for a broad range of optical effects including iridescence, narrow band reflection, large solid-angle scattering, polarization, additive color mixing, fluid induced color changes, and controlled fluorescence. This book reviews research of biological photonic devices in accordance with the fundamental aspects of physical optics and environmental biology. It provides readers with an understanding of numerical modelling based on morphological and optical characterizations as well as the quantitative treatment of color vision. This forward-thinking book ties these concepts to the design and synthesis of bioinspired photonic devices and opens the door to the applications of nature’s lessons in the technical world. This resource introduces a methodology for working with and utilizing bioinspiration. It includes the experimental and numerical tools necessary for the characterization and simulation of photonic structures and uses original concepts as examples, with a focus on bioinspired hygrochromatic materials. Professionals are brought up to speed on a variety of fabrication techniques and methods of synthesis all following a straightforward bottom-up or top-down approach. The reader will gain an understanding of the capability of bioinspiration to meet human needs. This book’s explanation of how natural photonics structures behave as efficient solar absorbers or thermal management devices makes it a useful resource for technical professionals in the field of energy and environment, and the concepts presented in this book also have applications in the designs of optical coatings, sensors, and light sources.
If you want the best performance from your optics, they need to be properly maintained. This book describes the cleaning, handling, and storage methods used by professional technicians to keep optics in top condition. It is written for a diverse audience, from first-time optical cleaners to assembly technicians and seasoned engineers.
Optical science and engineering affect almost every aspect of our lives. Millions of miles of optical fiber carry voice and data signals around the world. Lasers are used in surgery of the retina, kidneys, and heart. New high-efficiency light sources promise dramatic reductions in electricity consumption. Night-vision equipment and satellite surveillance are changing how wars are fought. Industry uses optical methods in everything from the production of computer chips to the construction of tunnels. Harnessing Light surveys this multitude of applications, as well as the status of the optics industry and of research and education in optics, and identifies actions that could enhance the field's contributions to society and facilitate its continued technical development.
