Sourcing Hotline
Deep-ultraviolet coating capability that meets demanding requirements for high-volume optical components is available from a supplier of precision optics, Agilent Technologies Europe (Meyrin, Switzerland; www.agilent.com). The firm offers long-life optics designed to address the need for accurate and reliable laser-beam delivery in advanced medical device and semiconductor photolithography systems. Its proprietary high-throughput UV coatings have been tested to lengthen component lifetime while also minimizing the problem of coating compaction, thus reducing maintenance and system downtime.
Reflectivity and damage-threshold testing has been completed, and several coating chambers have been qualified through independent tests. The supplier has a vertically integrated design-through-production facility that includes capabilities in fabrication by means of shaping, grinding, and polishing and in the application of deep-UV through near-infrared coatings. Comprehensive metrology and up-to-date equipment for monitoring and controlling pressure, temperature, and coating application rate are employed to ensure accurate, repeatable processing.
