Space radiation testing of thin film and multilayer optical coatings

Abstract

With the increasing complexity of optical designs flown on satellites, specialty thin film and multilayer filter coatings are being implemented more often. Unfortunately, very little ionizing radiation testing has actually been performed on such coatings, and certainly not completed to very high doses as might be experienced by an unshielded space optic in orbit for many years. In this paper we present results of gamma irradiation testing on the transmission properties of selected multilayer filters and optical coatings performed in an inert argon environment.