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| OPTICAL COATINGS FROM DESIGN THROUGH MANUFACTURE |
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A logical approach to optical coatings, their design, manufacture, properties and application. Optical coatings are traditionally thought to be rather mysterious with the unexpected the norm and success dependent on skill and experience and a certain degree of good fortune. However there are excellent reasons for even the extremely bizarre behavior of coatings and it is an understanding of these reasons that is the key to real, effective, expertise in the subject. Understanding is the emphasis throughout this course, which covers all aspects of coatings from design through manufacture.
The course is a mixture of formal lectures and hands-on tutorials with a computer for each student. The objective is the presentation of a logical unified treatment of the subject with emphasis throughout on understanding and reasoning. There are no prerequisites although a familiarity with high-school mathematics and/or science would be useful. |
| Course Description |
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Calculation of the optical properties of a given thin-film coating is straightforward. Designing for desired optical properties is rather more difficult. Reverse engineering that attempts to identify the errors responsible for manufacturing failures is similar to design but requires a much greater level of understanding. Computers are absolutely necessary in these tasks and so hands-on instruction in computer-aided design is an important aspect of the course. But other supporting techniques that help in understanding the output of the computer and include powerful, back-of-the-envelope methods are even more important and are covered in detail. Optimization and synthesis, included in the course, are impressive methods but in no way replacements for understanding.
Optical film behavior is quite different from that of similar bulk material and it is film microstructure that is largely responsible. Film growth, microstructure, crystallinity, interaction with the environment and, especially, failure modes are important course topics. Much of this can be included in a simple yet comprehensive model of film growth. A further course objective is an appreciation of deposition processes, the effects of deposition errors, and of tolerances. Accurate design and analysis involve such a volume of calculation that computers are indispensable. The Essential Macleod package is therefore used for this course. It is a comprehensive collection of tools for virtually all aspects of coating design, analysis, manufacture and understanding and each student has a copy to use for the duration of the course. However it is not necessary to possess this software to benefit from the course. The lecture notes are extensive and have been specially written. Attending the course is the only way in which they may be obtained. |
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Provisional Syllabus | |||||||||||||||
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| The Instructor | |
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Dr. Angus Macleod has over 200 publications in the field of optics including the book Thin Film Optical Filters. He is Professor Emeritus of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona and President of Thin Film Center Inc. The SVC recognized his contributions to the vacuum coating industry with the 2002 Nathaniel Sugerman Memorial Award. For his work in education and research he was awarded the 1997 Esther Hoffman Beller medal of the OSA and the Gold Medal of the SPIE in 1987. He has taught courses in optical topics all over the world to classes from one or two to over two hundred. He specializes in teaching techniques for understanding and logical thinking that avoid complicated theory without oversimplification. |
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Thin Film Center Inc 2745 E Via Rotonda, Tucson, AZ 85716-5227, USA Telephone: +1 520 322 6171 Fax: +1 520 325 8721 Email: info@thinfilmcenter.com |
See the current Masterclass schedule here... On-Site Delivery All Masterclasses are available for on-site delivery at your location. Please email Thin Film Center for more information. |