Vibrations and losS In amorphous OptIcal coatiNgs – ViSIONs

Despite their ubiquity in optics, little is known about how growth conditions determine the microstructure, and thus the macroscopic
properties, of dielectric thin films produced by room temperature PVD. The project aims at constructing a comprehensive answer to
this problem by combining: 1) an experimental study of the deposition process; 2) the systematic characterization of the
macroscopic and microscopic (structural and dynamical) properties of the coatings produced; and 3) the atomistic modeling of
growth, followed by the full characterization of the films thus formed, and the identification of atomic structures responsible for
mechanical loss.
The regular contacts of project partners with major industrial actors such as Essilor, Sagem, or Thales, and with the scientific
communities working on Optical Devices and Gravitational Astronomy guarantee a rapid transfer of the project findings towards
cutting-edge technologies.