High Energy Laser Protective Coatings Based on Symmetric Multicomponent All-Dielectric Micro-Optical Reflectors

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of laser weaponry, their exceptional strike capabilities and high energy density have become an increasing threat in modern warfare, necessitating the development of effective laser protection strategies. This study presents a novel symmetric, multicomponent, all-dielectric high-reflection film structure. By integrating multicomponent materials, the design enhances laser damage resistance, while its symmetric architecture enables the transformation from films to coatings using micro-optical reflectors (MOR). The resulting room-temperature-cured coating achieves a high reflectance of 94.7% at 1080 nm. After 20 s of laser irradiation at 1.5 kW cm⁻², the backside temperature increased by only 118.1 °C, with no visible signs of ablation. Even under extreme irradiation for 3 min, the coating demonstrated exceptional durability. These findings highlight the innovative application of optical reflective films for laser protection and underscore their potential for deployment on complex surfaces such as satellites, aircraft, and optoelectronic countermeasure systems.