Enabling High Performance Detectors and Optics for Astronomy and Planetary Exploration with ALD

Future UV, X-ray, and sub-millimeter telescopes and spectrometers have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the formation and habitability of the modern universe.[1-4] Star formation, dark energy, and the composition of the intergalactic medium are only some of the key scientific topics that can be addressed by UV astronomy and astrophysics. Sub-millimeter astronomy can probe the fine structure of the cosmic microwave background, giving glimpses into the early universe immediately following the Big Bang.[5] Unfortunately, harnessing the full potential of UV instruments is difficult as there are significant materials challenges that constrain their performance. Most materials are highly absorbing in the UV and those few materials that are transparent must fabricated to be o