High-reliability infrared broadband thin-film polarizing beam splitter with ZnSe compensation layers.

Thin-film polarizing beam splitters (PBSs) fulfill a pivotal role in laser beam splitting, modulation, shaping and isolation. In this study, a high-reliability infrared broadband thin-film PBS was developed. To correct for tensile stress in Ge/YbF3 multilayer coatings, ZnSe compensation layers were incorporated in the multilayer design. The effects of different symmetrical periods on the spectral properties of the infrared PBS were systematically discussed. The infrared PBS operated at 45° and in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) band. Using the percent of optical extrema monitoring (POEM) strategy combined with the high-temperature optical constants (HTOC) of Ge film, the infrared PBS was precisely fabricated on ZnSe substrates. Subsequently, the spectral performance and film reliability of the infrared PBS were carefully characterized. Specifically, the transmittance of p-polarization surpassed 96%, while the extinction ratio exceeded 100:1 within the 10.6 ± 0.15 µm band. The infrared PBS demonstrated commendable environmental reliability, in addition to exhibiting excellent spectral characteristics.