Dual-Band EUV Multilayer Coatings for Solar Physics

We propose to develop and commercialize a new class of multilayer interference coating that is designed to provide high reflection efficiency in two disparate wavelength bands in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV), a so-called 'dual-band' EUV multilayer. A high-performance dual-band multilayer coating will allow for solar imaging or spectroscopy instruments that operate in two different EUV channels using a single instrument aperture. The realization of dual-band multilayer coatings having high reflectance at the target wavelengths, low reflectance of unwanted wavelengths, low film stress, and good thermal and temporal stability, will enable the construction of future solar instruments that have much higher collection efficiency, lower mass and volume, and lower costs than is currently possible using existing multilayer coating technology. The goal of our proposed Phase I program is to experimentally investigate the performance of a new type of dual-band coating design comprising two periodic multilayers separated by a low-absorption spacer layer. This approach results in the ability to independently tune the spectral response of both EUV wavebands, and to suppress unwanted wavelengths. We will explore both B4C/Si-Si-B4C/Mo-Si and SiC/Al-Al-Zr/Al designs. We also will investigate the use of novel capping layer structures comprising Ir, Ru or other metals, for enhanced reflectance and better coating resilience in harsh environments.

The high-performance dual-band multilayer coatings we propose to develop will enable the construction of EUV imaging and spectroscopy instruments having higher collection efficiency, lower mass and volume, and lower cost than is currently possible using conventional multilayer coatings. Our proposed new dual-band multilayer coatings will thus meet the performance requirements of future NASA solar missions such as FACTS, RAM, Solar-C and others that will need even higher cadence, lower signal-to-noise, and higher angular and spectral resolution.

High-performance dual-band EUV multilayers will find application in a variety of other areas of research, including plasma diagnostics, high-harmonic generation sources, X-ray lasers, and other emerging EUV applications.

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