NANOscientific

Search
검색하기
overview
speakers
program
location
Abstract Submission
On-demand Video
Back to List

Contribued Speaker

Paola Zuppella

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Italy

A Multiscale Approach to Optical Surface Characterization: Integrating AFM and Optical Methods

 

P. Zuppella, P. Chioetto, V. Da Deppo, G.Favaro, C. Naletto

 

The ability to accurately assess the quality of optical surfaces is a key factor in the development of advanced instrumentation for space applications, as well as in the design and engineering of innovative nanostructured materials. As optical systems become increasingly complex and miniaturized, the demand for high-resolution, non-destructive surface analysis techniques continues to grow, especially when it comes to ensuring the optical performance of critical components.

 

At the laboratories of CNR-IFN in Padua, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is routinely employed as a powerful tool for the morphological and structural characterization of a wide variety of optical elements, including thin films, diffraction gratings, optical filters, polarizers, and two-dimensional (2D) materials. AFM provides sub-nanometric resolution and enables precise measurements of surface roughness, topography, and local mechanical properties—parameters that are crucial for determining the optical behavior of materials.

 

AFM characterization is often complemented by a range of optical tests aimed at evaluating the spectral response, reflectivity, transmittance, and other key optical properties of the components under study. This integrated approach allows researchers to directly correlate surface morphology with optical performance, supporting the development of high-precision subsystems for photonic, optoelectronic, and aerospace applications.

 

This contribution will present recent examples and methodologies adopted at CNR-IFN, highlighting the potential of AFM-based workflows in the context of modern optical engineering.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge financial support by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU Program with the IPHOQS Infrastructure (IR0000016, ID D2B8D520, CUP B53C22001750006) “Integrated infrastructure initiative in Photonic and Quantum Sciences”. The authors acknowledge the support of the Space It Up project funded by the Italian Space Agency, ASI, and the Ministry of University and Research, MUR, under contract n. 2024-5-E.0 - CUP n. I53D24000060005

We use cookies or similar technologies as specified in our privacy policy to enhance your experience.

If you would like to learn more about how we use cookies, click "Cookie Policy".