In addition to tradeoffs between mirror reflectivity, wavefront, laser-damage threshold, and cost, new low-stress coatings offer weight, geometry, and thermomechanical performance design flexibility.

Many optical systems require mirrors that push the limits of manufacturability and deliver near-perfect reflectivity and reflected-wavefront control. Consequently, it’s often advantageous for optical system designers, or anyone selecting mirrors for steering lasers on an optical bench, to engage optical coating engineers early in the design process...