Acton Optics and Coatings, a division of Princeton Instruments, has introduced long-life, laser-damage-resistant mirror coatings for high-power, high-repetition-rate 355 nm Nd:YAG lasers. The coatings have a unique hybrid structure that yields greater than 99% reflectance, and exhibit 3X higher laser-damage threshold than conventional optics when tested in 355 nm Nd:YAG laser systems. This enhanced performance substantially reduces equipment downtime for micromachining and materials-processing companies by increasing the amount of time between replacing optics. The 355 nm hybrid design allows for extreme repetition rates up to 100 kHz at fluence levels up to 15 J/cm2.
Acton Optics and Coatings
Acton, MA
www.princetoninstruments.com
Posted by Carol Settino, Laser Focus World, www.laserfocusworld.com
________________________
PRESS RELEASE
New Coatings Designed for Long Life in 355nm Laser Applications
Acton Optics and Coatings, a division of Princeton Instruments, is pleased to introduce long-life, laser damage resistant mirror coatings for high-power, high-repetition rate 355nm Nd:YAG lasers.
Acton has developed a unique hybrid coating structure that yields greater than 99% reflectance, additionally exhibiting 3X greater laser damage threshold than conventional optics when tested in 355nm Nd:YAG laser systems. This enhanced performance substantially reduces equipment downtime for micromachining and materials processing companies by increasing the amount of time between replacing optics. The 355nm Hybrid design allows for extreme rep. rates up to 100 kHz at fluence levels up to 15 J/cm2.
Acton has been in the forefront of the development of laser damage resistant coatings since the 1970s. Our continuous process improvement is driven by the semiconductor, medical laser and materials processing industries' need for long life Excimer and Nd:YAG laser coatings. This new coating extends the technology to 355nm Nd:YAG lasers used in a variety of materials processing applications.
The advanced hybrid coating structure utilized in these laser-damage resistant coatings is facilitated by Acton's proprietary In Situ Optical Monitoring System (OMS). Mark Dykstra, General Manager of Acton Optics & Coatings states, "Our strength is producing application-specific coatings that exceed the performance levels of most coating operations. Our OMS is custom designed and built by Princeton Instruments' Spectroscopy Group to provide capabilities not available from commercial equipment. The result is consistent batch-to-batch repeatability along with precise control of uniformity and coating stress."
About Princeton Instruments and Acton Optics & Coatings
Princeton Instruments designs and manufactures high-performance CCD, ICCD, and EMCCD cameras; spectrographs; and optics-based solutions for the scientific research, industrial imaging, and OEM communities. We take pride in partnering with our customers to solve their most challenging problems in unique, innovative ways. For more information on Princeton Instruments products, please visit www.princetoninstruments.com.
Now a part of Princeton Instruments, a subsidiary of Roper Industries (ROP:NYSE), Acton Optics & Coatings retains a small company's entrepreneurial spirit, combined with the added benefits and strength of multi-national corporate resources. Acton Optics & Coatings is ISO 9001:2000 certified and maintains the commitment to meet each customer's specific requirements through the continuous improvement of our quality management system.