Mirror coatings function in the opposite manner of anti-reflective coatings. Rather than minimizing reflected light, their purpose is to reflect as much light as possible at a specific wavelength or across a designated wavelength range. Unlike household mirrors, optical mirrors are precision-engineered substrates with thin layers of metallic and/or dielectric materials applied.
Common metallic coatings used include silver, gold, or aluminum. To enhance durability, a protective silicon dioxide (SiO2) layer is often applied over the metallic coating. In some cases, dielectric materials are added beneath the metal layer to boost spectral performance.
For specialized applications, Notch Optics’s advanced coating equipment allows for the deposition of multilayer dielectric mirrors, offering superior spectral performance at custom wavelengths or ranges.
Additionally, Notch Optics can deposit dichroic mirror coatings, which provide high reflectance in one wavelength band while maintaining very low reflectance in another. These coatings are known as "hot" or "cold" mirrors.
Metal Mirror Coating
Notch Optics specializes in depositing protected and enhanced metal optical coatings tailored for military, medical, fiber optic, industrial, and scientific applications.
Options include protected and enhanced Gold, Aluminum, and Silver coatings designed for first or second surface reflection, angle of incidence, incident medium, and substrate material.
These coatings are optimized for superior performance from UV to Infrared wavelengths. Thin film designs are available for deposition on various optical materials including plastics, molded polymer optics, glass, metals, fiber optic devices, and Infrared optical materials.
Notch Optics’s Metal Optical coatings meet MIL-M-13508C environmental and durability requirements.
Dielectric Mirror Coating
We manufacture highly reflective low-loss broadband dielectric optical coatings with greater than 99.5% reflection, optimized for wavelengths from 248nm to 2500nm in broad band or multi-band applications.
These custom coatings are ideal for military, medical, fiber optic, and scientific research purposes. Designs can be tailored to specific wavelength ranges, angle of incidence, substrate material, incident medium, and polarization state.
Notch Optics ensures maximum performance for your systems and offers deposition on plastics, molded polymer optics, glass substrates, fiber optic devices, crystals, and semiconductor materials.
Notch Optics’s Dielectric Optical coatings meet MIL-C-48497 environmental and durability standards, while coatings on glass substrates meet MIL-F-48616 requirements.
Laser Dielectric Mirror Coating
Notch Optics produces highly reflective low-loss dielectric laser optical coatings with up to 99.95% reflection, optimized for laser line wavelengths from 248nm to 2500nm or multi-band applications.
These coatings are designed for high power applications in glass substrates, fiber optic devices, crystals, and semiconductor materials.
We customize coatings to withstand significant laser damage thresholds, ensuring optimal performance for high power laser applications.
Notch Optics’s Laser Dielectric Mirror coatings meet MIL-C-48497 environmental and durability standards, with coatings on glass substrates meeting MIL-F-48616 requirements.
Typical Specification
| Dimension | 4mm ~ 80mm, round or square |
| Material | BK7 or Fused Silica |
| Surface Quality | 10/5 |
| Surface Flatness | λ / 10 @ 632.8 nm |
| Parallelism | 30″ |
| Roughness | 3Å |
| Wavelength Type | Typical Wavelength(nm) | Coating Capability | Main Application |
| UV | 351,355 | R>99.8% | Laser Welding Laser Engraving Laser Marking Stage Laser |
| Visible | 457, 473, 532, 633, 671 | R>99.9% | |
| IR | 914, 1064, 1123, 1310, 1342, 1550 | R>99.9% |
Key Characteristics of Laser Mirrors
High Reflectivity: Laser mirrors are designed to have very high reflectivity (often above 99%) at specific wavelengths or wavelength ranges. This ensures that most of the laser light is reflected rather than absorbed or scattered.
Coatings: They are often coated with dielectric or metallic coatings that are tailored to match the laser's wavelength. Dielectric coatings, which consist of multiple thin layers, provide superior reflectivity and durability. Metallic coatings, like aluminum or silver, can be used for broader wavelength ranges but may not reach the same level of reflectivity as dielectric coatings.
Wavelength Specificity: Laser mirrors are often wavelength-specific, meaning they are designed to perform optimally at certain wavelengths (e.g., 532 nm, 1064 nm), matching the laser's output. Mirrors for tunable or multiple lasers may have broader wavelength ranges.
Laser Damage Threshold: These mirrors are made to withstand high-intensity laser beams without being damaged. The damage threshold is an important parameter, indicating the maximum amount of laser power the mirror can handle.
Applications: Laser mirrors are used in various optical systems and devices that rely on precise laser beam manipulation. These include laser cavities, beam steering systems, laser cutting and welding machines, and scientific instruments like interferometers and optical microscopes.
Low Loss: By minimizing losses from reflection and absorption, laser mirrors help maintain the power and integrity of the laser beam as it travels through the system.