The complete article appears in the January issue of Photonics Spectra. If you do not have a copy of this issue, e-mail us a request. Be sure to include your street address or fax number.
Optical filters separate wavelengths of light using the principle of optical interference.
For 25 years, filter technology has enabled products such as missile guidance and target recognition, medical diagnostic tools, analytical instruments, satellite power and pointing systems, and color measurement and projection systems. The combined growth rate for these types of products is quite flat. On the other hand, the growth rate in demand for filters for dense WDM components exceeds 40 percent per year. Producing filters for communications markets requires a high level of expertise plus significant investments in people and machinery. These factors have created a worldwide shortage of filters, which in turn has encouraged the optical coating industry to place a technical and economic priority on communications products.