Articles by Ron Willey
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Using Ion Sources To Improve Optical Thin Film Deposition
12/16/2014
Deposition processes are one of the primary issues of optical coating fabrication. Controlling the energy of atoms during the deposition process is a key to the resulting structure and properties of the optical film. A typical way to add energy during deposition is by using ion-assisted deposition (IAD). This article discusses IAD source properties that can be used to improve optical film deposition.
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Key Issues Of Optical Thin Film Coating Fabrication
9/16/2014
The design process for optical thin film coatings is well-defined and straightforward in modern times, and it is highly facilitated by computer assistance. While almost any coating can be designed, not every design can be fabricated. This article addresses some of the key issues that arise when fabricating optical thin film coatings and offers insight into how to overcome those challenges.
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Rugate-Like Designs: Using Homogeneous Optical Thin Films
6/2/2014
The term “rugate” is defined in The American College Dictionary as: “adj. wrinkled; rugose.” Rugose is defined as: “adj. having wrinkles; wrinkled, ridged.” The term has come into use in the optical coating community in the last three decades. Bill Southwell [1] said, in a private conversation, that the rugate concept originated with Conrad Phillippi of the Materials Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1982. Bill had been heavily involved in the rugate field and published many papers on the subject. By Ronald R. Willey, Willey Optical, Consultants
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Obtaining Good %T and %R Measurements
10/11/2011
There are occasional papers in the journals and sections in texts on the fine points of the measurement of optical coatings, but seldom a review of "common" practice for a person new to the field. We will here attempt to help with that problem of "how to measure" before embarking on what to do with those measurements. By Ron Willey, Willey Optical, Consultants