Large area ALD-protected aluminum mirror coatings for HWO

We propose a follow-on effort to our prior program to continue the development of new atomic layer deposition (ALD) and atomic layer etching (ALE) processes for the fabrication of high-reflectivity broadband far-UV-to-near-IR mirror coatings. This work will continue to address a key Tier-1 NASA Astrophysics technology gap with relevance to the emerging needs of the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). Our program will extend work in the previous program to include new material demonstrations in the large area ALD chamber at the University of California Santa Cruz with the goal of a demonstration a 0.5 m monolithic LiF-protected aluminum coating at the end of our new two year program. The planned work will enable a new paradigm in the fabrication of protected-aluminum mirrors by separating the aluminum coating step from the protective coating step. Optimization of the vacuum chamber and coating processes for each respective step may enable such coatings to more easily meet possible HWO requirements on reflectance and polarization uniformity. This proposed program will also leverage a new large area UV characterization facility being constructed at JPL in order to fully characterize the 0.5 m optic across its full aperture.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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