Interference systems of controllable mirrors based on vanadium dioxide for the spectral range 0.6-10.6 μm

This paper discusses the construction principles of thin-film interference systems for mirrors based on vanadium dioxide, intended to control laser radiation in the visible, near-IR and mid-IR regions. It shows that the features of the optical parameters of vanadium dioxide affect the optical characteristics of the mirrors in various sections of the spectrum. Specific interference systems of controllable VO2 mirrors are proposed for a number of wavelengths in the spectral interval 0.6-10.6 mu m, and calculated characteristics are presented that make it possible to estimate the efficiency of using each interference system in a given spectral interval. (C) 1999 The Optical Society of America.