Use of Silica Gel as a Getter for the Protection of Sol-gel Coated Optics: Concept Verification

Technical Report · Thu Dec 21 04:00:00 EST 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1165808· OSTI ID:1165808

Miller, P. E. ^[1]; Thorsness, C. B. ^[1]; Ertel, J. ^[1]; Behne, D. ^[1]; Kishiyama, K. ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Because of their high damage thresholds, sol-gel coatings will be used as an antireflective (AR) coating on a substantial portion of the NIF optical train. Unfortunately, because of their high porosity such coatings can adsorb significant quantities of volatile or semi-volatile organic compounds. If a sufficient quantity of such compounds, which are often called airborne molecular contaminants (AMCs), are adsorbed by the coating the resulting change in the refractive index at the surface of the optic can be large enough to destroy the AR properties of the coating. Because the rate at which AMCs are transported varies inversely with pressure, this issue is particularly problematic in those portions of the beamline, such as the spatial filter, that are evacuated.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1165808
• Report Number(s): LLNL--TR-661878
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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