Fully automated inline sputtering for optical coatings

Matthias List; Christian Melde; Johannes Struempfel; Claus Illgen

doi:10.1117/12.512944

25 February 2004 Fully automated inline sputtering for optical coatings

Matthias List, Christian Melde, Johannes Struempfel, Claus Illgen

Proceedings Volume 5250, Advances in Optical Thin Films; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.512944
Event: Optical Systems Design, 2003, St. Etienne, France

Abstract

Reactive magnetron sputtering using pulsed technique in combination with dual magnetron design has become a relevant factor for the production of optical coatings. This pulsed reactive magnetron sputtering process enables the deposition of highly insulating layers, like Al₂O₃, SiO₂, Nb₂O₅, with high deposition rates, sophisticated optical properties and excellent homogeneity on large substrates. In this paper a Vertical Inline Sputtering System (VISS) for optical coatings is presented. The goal for this new type of production inline coater is a fully automated thickness control for high and low index materials. This shortened the time from design to a coated product. Fundamental for this approach is the knowledge of the behaviour of reactive magnetron sputtering, the relationship between process parameters and optical layer properties. Due to the influence of process parameters (magnetron power, argon pressure, set point of plasma emission) on layer properties (refractive index, absorption, stress, etc.) an adjustment of layer properties is necessary. Typical correlations for the deposition of SiO₂ as a low index material and Nb₂O₅ as a high index material will be presented. Beside the knowledge about reactive magnetron sputtering a precondition to come to a fully automated production is a reproducible and accurate optical measurement. The set up of optical measurement and the steps to come to a high accuracy measurement are described. With the presentation of different examples of optical coatings the versatility of this production coater will be shown.

Citation Download Citation

Matthias List, Christian Melde, Johannes Struempfel, and Claus Illgen "Fully automated inline sputtering for optical coatings", Proc. SPIE 5250, Advances in Optical Thin Films, (25 February 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.512944

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