Optical Materials Group | Physical and Life Sciences Directorate

The Optical Materials Group accomplishes its goals through expertise in:

Optical coatings, polishing/finishing, and surface cleaning and etching
Crystal growth
Sol-gel synthesis
Cleanliness and debris in high-power laser systems
Laser damage initiation, growth, and mitigation
Additively manufactured optics
Diodes, fiber lasers, and more

Our work supports the optic needs of advanced laser systems such as the National Ignition Facility (NIF).

Researchers inspect a wedged focus lens in the Optics Processing Facility.

Our research focus areas include:

Optical finishing
Optical materials processing
Optical characterization
Optical damage
Polymeric materials for laser systems
Additively manufactured optics
Inorganic coatings and thin films

Learn more about our optical processes by watching our videos: Take a ride along NIF’s optics recycle loop and Laser Damage Resistant Anti-Reflection Grating Debris Shield (AR-GDS).

VanBlarcom, Diana S.

Diana VanBlarcom

Optical Materials Group Leader

Paul Ehrmann

Guediche, Amira

Amira Guediche

Postdoctoral Researcher

Jungmin Ha

Staff Scientist

Harthcock, Colin

Colin Harthcock

Staff Scientist

Kerszulis, Justin Adam

Justin Kerszulis

Staff Scientist

Wyatt Liao

Christopher Mah

Stephen Mezyk

Marcus Monticelli

Alan Ramirez

Nathan Ray

Staff Scientist

Koroush Sasan

Staff Scientist

Sam Schardt

Process Engineer

Rusty Steele

Alice Wong

Process Engineer

Lana Wong

Materials Scientist

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