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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Bringing the Visible Universe into Focus with Robo-AO
Published on: February 12, 2013
Cooled infrared filters and dichroics for the James Webb Space Telescope Mid-Infrared Instrument
Gary Hawkins1, Richard Sherwood
1The University of Reading, Infrared Multilayer Laboratory, School of Systems Engineering, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6AY, UK. g.j.hawkins@reading.ac.uk
Abstract:
The cooled infrared filters and dichroic beam splitters manufactured for the Mid-Infrared Instrument are key optical components for the selection and isolation of wavelengths in the study of astrophysical properties of stars, galaxies, and other planetary objects. We describe the spectral design and manufacture of the precision cooled filter coatings for the spectrometer (7 K) and imager (9 K). Details of the design methods used to achieve the spectral requirements, selection of thin film materials, deposition technique, and testing are presented together with the optical layout of the instrument.
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