Altechna Coatings UAB and its partners – Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. and Optomaterials S.r.l. – have partnered to implement the “High Performance Alexandrite Crystals and Coatings for High Power Space Applications (GALACTIC)“ Project (No. 870427) funded by the European Union.

 

As one of the largest optical engineering companies in the EU’s Central and Eastern European region, Altechna Coatings focuses on research, development, design and in-house manufacturing of optical coatings and components for laser systems, as well as optical devices targeted at leading equipment manufacturers. The organization’s technology and product portfolio include techniques for advanced optical-coating deposition and manufacturing with e-beam, ion beam sputtering and reactive magnetron sputtering equipment. The company’s optical-coating engineers and technicians have many years of experience in the development of physical vapor deposition techniques, design and manufacture of various types of dielectric and metallic coatings in the UV-VIS-NIR spectral range. As the science of thin films continues to evolve, AC continually monitors and incorporates new technologies and equipment that enable it to offer its customers the most advanced optical coatings available.

 

The availability of space-qualified technology readiness level (TRL) 6 high-performance coated alexandrite laser crystals within Europe is a major enabling technology for future Earth observation missions which help to improve the understanding of our planet. In particular, space missions that are enhanced by laser-based instruments enable new ways of monitoring the atmosphere or the planet’s surface. The GALACTIC project is therefore aiming towards the creation of a complete supply chain solely among European industry for high-performance, high-quality coated alexandrite laser crystals. Altechna Coatings, with the combined efforts of a research institute – Laser Zentrum Hannover and industrial partner – Optomaterials, will enable a detailed TRL 6 qualification for coated alexandrite crystals within the GALACTIC project, making these crystals a new purely European product to be used in future missions by the space industry.

 

The project is led by Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. and financed by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 870427. The initiative comes under the funding programmes H2020-EU.2.1.6.1. – Enabling European competitiveness, non-dependence and innovation of the European space sector; and H2020-EU.2.1.6.2. – Enabling advances in space technology. The total value of the project is €1,999,127.50, provided by the European Union. It began on 1 January 2020 and will be completed on 31 December 2022.

 

More information:

• CORDIS EU Research results
• GALACTIC Homepage