Design and fabrication of broadband anti-reflection coatings for the M.A.E.S.T.R.O. spectrograph

Abstract

This dissertation describes the design and manufacturing techniques of antireflection coatings for the optical components of the MAESTRO spectrograph. This work was motivated by the need for a high-performance, robust and inexpensive anti-reflection (AR) coating for deep-space, faint object astronomical observations. I have created a new line of AR-filters, optimal for several different glass substrates, with a small number of layers. The possible ease of mass-manufacture of the CoyoteRTM coating is also illustrated here. I also describe a possible new technique for overcoating aluminum and silver reflective films on glass substrates, as well as future directions for research.