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Tips for specifying mirror coatings

Specify angle of incidence, wavelength(s) and polarisation

Very thin mirrors may distort due to tensile and compressive forces in the thin film coating layers

A small perimeter area will be uncoated

High reflectivity e.g 99.8%+ can only be acheived over a small spectrum

Thin Film modelling software can allow a coating to be designed and characterised

BROADBAND REFLECTIVE COATINGS

Mirror coatings are designed to acheive the maximum reflectivity over the widest spectrum of wavelengths.

There is always a trade off, in that the wider the range of operating wavelengths, the lower the overall reflectance.

Protected Silver has a similar peformance to Gold coating in the near infra red, but the visible performance is better for silver. Gold coatings can be used at Terahertz frequencies.

Protected Silver is more durable.

Protected Silver coating in near infra red

Enhanced coatings for specific wavelengths such as 633nm, see below, or 10.6 microns wavelength such as our MaxR coating

A coating for red laser use