Abstract

We have produced antireflection (AR) surfaces on borosilicate optical glass by controlled corrosion in nearly neutral solutions and studied their resistance to laser-induced damage. The neutral-solution process reduced surface reflectivity from 4 to below 0.1 % at a wavelength determined by duration of the treatment. This process has been successfully applied to BK-7 and similar borosilicate glasses which are used for optical elements, such as lenses and windows, in high-energy visible and near-IR lasers. In current practice, the reflectivity of those surfaces is reduced by applying multilayer dielectric thin-film AR coatings.

© 1982 Optical Society of America