Physical Optics and Optical Methods

Vacuum Technology System “V-55”

Spectral Characteristics

• Spectral Range: 175 – 3300 nm
• UV/Vis Resolution: ≤ 0.05 nm
• NIR Resolution: ≤ 0.20 nm
• Photometric Range: 6-8 A

Additional Modules:

• URA – Mirror reflection at angles 8° - 65°
• 150mm Integrating InGaAs Sphere
• Polarizer

The Symphony 9 (Tecport Optics) technological installation for vacuum deposition of thin-film optical structures provides extensive opportunities for research in this field, as well as for scientific and applied industrial developments, innovations, consulting services, and more. It is complemented by a spectrophotometric laboratory, enabling optical characterization of the produced samples in the spectral range from 0.2 µm to 300 µm with high-precision, state-of-the-art equipment:

• FT-IR Spectrometer Vertex 70 (Bruker Optics)
• UV-VIS-NIR Spectrophotometer Lambda 1050 (Perkin Elmer)

Vacuum Chamber Specifications:

Dimensions: 960 mm diameter x 1100 mm

Deposition Methods:

• Electron beam and resistive evaporation
• Ion-assisted evaporation
• Simultaneous evaporation from two different material sources

Rotation System: Planetary and conventional dome rotation

Control and Monitoring:

• Advanced software for automated process control
• Quartz crystal monitoring of layer thickness during evaporation
• Direct and indirect optical control of layer thickness during evaporation

Capabilities:

• Fabrication of precise spectrally selective optical elements
• Deposition of >40 layers without process interruption

The Vertex 70 Fourier Transform Spectrometer (Bruker) is a high-end instrument. The attachments and polarizer with which it is equipped allow for the measurement of spectral characteristics of surfaces, thin films, liquid, and powdered samples.

Its capability to register spectra in the terahertz range—the region of vibrational frequencies of crystal phonons and giant bio-complexes—makes the laboratory unique in Bulgaria. 

• Spectral range: 10,000–30 cm⁻¹ (1–300 μm)
• Resolution: 0.16 cm⁻¹
• Spectral accuracy: 0.005 cm⁻¹
• Photometric accuracy: 0.1%
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 10,000:1 peak-to-peak