Optics

Growing demands on optical functional coatings

Optical technologies rank among the most important growth and future industries. For industrial applications, coatings must now deliver the highest levels of precision, stability, and scalability. Even minimal deviations in layer thickness or material composition can impact optical performance. At the same time, coatings must operate reliably across the full spectrum from UV to IR, remain defect-free, and integrate seamlessly into existing optical or CMOS-based systems.

High-precision coatings and reliable process control

We develop customized solutions for advanced optical coatings and their manufacturing processes for industrial applications. At Fraunhofer IST, production-ready equipment is available for advanced magnetron sputtering using EOSS^® technology. This enables the deposition of highly precise coatings with optimized mechanical, optical, and functional properties. Typical applications include ultra-precise laser protection filters, anti-reflective coatings for planar or freeform optical components, and filters tailored to specific wavelength ranges. To optimize processes and equipment, we create application-specific simulations and virtual coating runs. These are combined with optical metrology for process monitoring and quality assurance: in-situ control using the MOCCA^+® monitoring system for precision optics manufacturing; ex-situ mapping systems for ellipsometry, photometry, and Raman spectroscopy; as well as particle and defect analysis using FIB-SEM and confocal microscopy. New measurement systems are designed and implemented using tools such as Zemax, TracePro, and COMSOL.

From concept to application

With our integrated approach combining simulation, coating technology, and quality assurance, we develop optical coatings and systems that meet the highest performance requirements and can be reliably integrated into your manufacturing environment. Contact us – we will find the feasible solution for your application.