| The core competencies of MLD Technologies include the design, manufacture, and measurement of optical thin-films and optical components. Ion Beam Sputtering, or IBS, is the primary deposition technology we employ. This technology originated in the Aerospace Industry, where it's development enabled the production of thin-film mirrors with unprecedented quality for use in laser-gyroscope navigation systems. Tony Louderback, one of the principals in MLD, is a co-inventor of this patented technology.
The IBS deposition process offers important advantages, when compared with other deposition processes. Specifically, its advantages include:
1. Extraordinarily precise control of complex film structures;
2. Low deposition substrate temperatures;
3. Packing density which is close to theoretical;
4. Exceptional film stoichiometry; and
5. Unusual environmental stability.
The near-theoretical packing density and highly stoichiometric films result in very low scatter and absorption. These properties are essential for high performance coatings, particularly those intended for application in the ultraviolet spectral region as well as in parts of the infra-red spectral region, where very low water content of the films is essential to minimize absorption.
Our unique expertise rests in our ability to not only design optical coatings with ultra-high performance and/or complex spectral response, but to actually fabricate coatings which meet the design goals. A few examples of such coatings are:
1. Reflectors at 400nm with total optical losses below 30ppm; that is to say R>99.997%;
2. Antireflection coatings with R<0.01% at various wavelengths, on both glass and crystalline substrates;
3. Mirrors and antireflection coatings that support highly efficient intracavity frequency doubling and tripling;
4. Dual-band reflectors with R>99.95% at 532nm and 1064nm; and
5. Ultraviolet reflectors with R>99.9% at 280nm.
Please contact us about your application. Let us help you solve your optical component problems and/or enhance the performance of your system. Please see our Additional Information page, for guidance in describing your needs to us.
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