Optical evaluation of digital micromirror devices (DMDs) with UV-grade fused silica, sapphire, and magnesium fluoride windows and long-term reflectance of bare devices

Manuel A. Quijada; Anton Travinsky; Dmitry Vorobiev; Zoran Ninkov; Alan Raisanen; Massimo Robberto; Sara Heap

doi:10.1117/12.2233341

22 July 2016 Optical evaluation of digital micromirror devices (DMDs) with UV-grade fused silica, sapphire, and magnesium fluoride windows and long-term reflectance of bare devices

Manuel A. Quijada, Anton Travinsky, Dmitry Vorobiev, Zoran Ninkov, Alan Raisanen, Massimo Robberto, Sara Heap

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9912, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II; 99125V (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233341
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

Digital micromirror devices (DMDs) are commercial micro-electromechanical systems, consisting of millions of mirrors which can be individually addressed and tilted into one of two states (±12°). These devices were developed to create binary patterns in video projectors, in the visible range. Commercially available DMDs are hermetically sealed and extremely reliable. Recently, DMDs have been identified as an alternative to microshutter arrays for space-based multi-object spectrometers (MOS). Specifically, the MOS at the heart of the proposed Galactic Evolution Spectroscopic Explorer (GESE) uses the DMD as a reprogrammable slit mask. Unfortunately, the protective borosilicate windows limit the use of DMDs in the UV and IR regimes, where the glass has insufficient throughput. In this work, we present our efforts to replace standard DMD windows with custom windows made from UV-grade fused silica, low-absorption optical sapphire (LAOS) and magnesium fluoride (MgF₂). We present transmission measurements of the antireflection coated windows and the reflectance of bare (window removed) DMDs. Furthermore, we investigated the long-term stability of the DMD reflectance and experiments for coating DMD active area with a layer of pure aluminum (Al) to boost reflectance performance in the UV spectral range (200−400 nm).

Citation Download Citation

Manuel A. Quijada, Anton Travinsky, Dmitry Vorobiev, Zoran Ninkov, Alan Raisanen, Massimo Robberto, and Sara Heap "Optical evaluation of digital micromirror devices (DMDs) with UV-grade fused silica, sapphire, and magnesium fluoride windows and long-term reflectance of bare devices", Proc. SPIE 9912, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II, 99125V (22 July 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233341

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available