Software Gauges Efficiency of AR Coatings

A British researcher has developed software that analyzes new antireflection coatings for optical systems.
Geoff Adams, of UK-based Optical Software Co., has developed WinLens for Spindler & Hoyer -- software for designers of multi-glass antireflection coatings for lenses. Typically, antireflection coatings for optical systems consisting of more than one glass type need to be made in several deposition runs. The number of runs depends on the number of lens elements and the degree of difference in the refractive index.
Designers have sought a way to optimize thin-film designs for AR coatings. WinLens enables the user to analyze the material's absorption and reflection losses at all optical interfaces.