Thin-film optics

Thin-film optics are optics with a deposition of one or more thin films of material, most often by an evaporative, chemical or sputtering process. Typically done to harness the effects of interference created by a change in index of refraction. You can observe these effects every day in soap bubbles and oil slicks.

This process is used to create low-emissivity panes of glass for your house and your car, for anti-reflective coatings on your glasses, for the reflective baffles on your headlights, and for high precision optical filters and mirrors, among other things.