Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC

Colorado State University Research Foundation

Justin Wolfe

Paul B Mirkarimi

Carmen Menoni

Christopher J Stolz

Regina Soufli

Christopher Charles Walton

Dinesh Patel

James Allen Folta

Jim Folta

A method of making a laser mirror in which a mirror substrate has at least a one micron size nodular defect includes depositing a planarization layer over the mirror substrate and the nodular defect, depositing a layer of silicon dioxide over the planarization layer, and etching away a portion of the layer of silicon dioxide. The method also includes thereafter, depositing a layer of hafnium dioxide over the layer of silicon dioxide and repeating the steps of depositing a layer of silicon dioxide, etching away a portion of the layer of silicon dioxide, and depositing a layer of hafnium dioxide until the nodular defect is reduced in size a predetermined amount.

Planarization of optical substrates

Planarization of defects in laser mirror and other optical component manufacture is disclosed. The planarization is performed by first depositing a relatively thick planarization layer, then carrying out a sequential deposition and etch process. The technique takes advantage of the non-uniform material removal rate as a function of etchant incident angle, and effectively buries the inclusion in a thick film with a near planar top surface. The process enables faster, more reliable manufacture of a non-defective high fluence multilayer mirror particularly suitable for high energy laser applications.

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Modesto, CA, United States of America

Justin Wolfe