Low cost filter for fluorescence systems

Abstract

Consistent with the present disclosure, a filter is provided by depositing a coating a substrate. The coating, which may include a plurality of hard-coating layers, has an associated transmission characteristic having a passband, as well as extended blocking.

Description

The present disclosure is directed toward optical filters. In particular, the present disclosure relates to optical filters which may be incorporated into fluorescence imaging and/or quantification systems.

Fluorescence systems are often employed to analyze or image biological samples. In such systems, the sample is typically exposed to light from a broadband or laser source at a wavelength at which a material of interest in the sample, such as a fluorophore or a naturally occurring substance in the material, absorbs light causing it to fluoresce or emit light at a different (typically longer) wavelength. Light emitted from the sample is then detected so that the location, amount, and other properties associated with the material of interest, as well as the sample, can be determined. In addition, an image of the sample can be constructed based on the detected fluorophore, for example.

In many fluorescence systems, light at a given wavelength excites an atom in the material of interest. The atom then relaxes to a lower energy state, and, in doing so, emits light at a different wavelength. Fluorescence systems typically include an optical source, such as a bright arc lamp or a laser, to generate the excitation light, and a photodetector for sensing light emitted by the sample. The photodetector may include a digital camera or the eyes of an observer. In order to reduce the amount of other light reaching detector, such as light from the source, filters are typically employed which are transmissive at wavelengths of light emitted by the sample, but reflective and/or absorbing at other wavelengths. If light at such other wavelengths is adequately suppressed, a so called “spectral darkfield” situation can be achieved in which an image is black or dark when no features of interest are present. Image quality can thus be improved. Without this spectral darkfield property, in most samples no fluorescence could be observed.

Optical filters are also used to direct the excitation light to the sample, and if highly reflective or absorbing at wavelengths associated with the emitted light, can efficiently direct the excitation light at the desired wavelengths to the sample while blocking light from the source at the emitted wavelengths.

Some optical filters include coatings of metal oxides and are physically hard (“hard coatings”), while others include coatings of softer materials, such as sodium aluminum fluoride (“cryolite”) and/or zinc sulfide (“soft coatings”). Filters including soft coatings are commercially available from Omega Optical, Inc.

With improved optical filters, more photons of emitted light and fewer photons of undesired light (e.g., the excitation light) are fed to the photodetector. Thus, weaker signals can be detected, or less excitation light is required to generate a given emitted optical signal, thereby minimizing damage to the sample by intense light from the source. Or, an image can be detected in less time leading to faster measurements. In addition, a higher signal-to-noise ratio (and therefore better resolution) can be achieved in the image, since, for example, the filter can block more excitation light from reaching the photodetector, while transmitting a given intensity of emitted light.

For an optical filter to be useful as a fluorescence filter, it preferably should be able to transmit light with high efficiency over a well-defined band of wavelengths (passband). The spectrum associated with an optical passband filter typically has reduced transmission over a limited range of wavelengths above the high wavelength edge of the passband, as well as a limited range of wavelengths below the lowest wavelength edge. For fluorescence spectroscopy applications, however, the filter spectrum should have substantial blocking of light over a broad range of wavelengths extending well beyond the limited ranges associated with the passband. Generally these two requirements (high transmission in the passband and extended blocking) are at least somewhat mutually exclusive. That is, providing more blocking generally occurs at the expense of reduced transmission in the desired passband. As explained below, wide-band blocking or extended blocking can be enhanced by colored (or absorbing) filter glass. Even with such enhancements, however, typically the most effective means to provide high blocking is with dielectric thin-film reflecting layers—generally the more layers, the more blocking is achievable. Because there tend to be limitations on the number of layers that can be successfully deposited in a single coating run, this requirement means that conventional fluorescence filters to-date have typically required multiple thin-film coatings per filter. For example, filters fabricated by ion-beam sputtering, which deposit many hard coating layers have to-date been made with at least two coatings per filter. Such filters include BrightLine® fluorescence filters commercially available from Semrock, Inc. Filters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,809,859, 7,068,430, 7,119,960, and 7,123,416, as well as application Ser. No. 10/953,483, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

As noted above, colored filter glass has been implemented in order to obtain greater blocking over a wider spectrum. Typically, colored filter glass is often combined with filters formed of soft-coated layers (discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,809,859) for such purposes. For example, the long-wave pass emission filters of very low-cost fluorescence filter sets are comprised of a single piece of colored filter glass.

In most soft-coated filters, however, extended-blocking multiple optical coatings are typically provided, each of which blocks light over a band of wavelengths determined by the “stopband width” of a characteristic quarter-wave stack of thin-film layers. Thus, wider blocking ranges require more quarter-wave stack coatings and are thus more difficult to fabricate.

Hard-coated filters are more robust than soft-coated filters and usually achieve blocking via dielectric reflection. Some hard-coated filters are based on a long-wave-pass coating on one side of a single substrate and a short-wave-pass coating on the opposite side, thus producing a bandpass filter, where one or both of the coatings also has built-in extended blocking reflection layers. Other conventional hard-coated filters have been made that have a bandpass filter on one side of a substrate based on a multi-cavity Fabry-Perot type filter coating (quarter-wave-based structure), and then one or more additional coatings with extended blocking layers on the opposite side of the substrate and any additional needed substrates (when there is more than one additional coating). Such filters are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,119,960 and typically have a narrow passband, which, when measured at the optical density 5 points on the spectral curve, is less than 2% of the center wavelength of the passband. It would be desirable, however, to provide a filter with a wider passband.

Conventional filters typically have limited performance due to the high losses and poor edge steepness associated with colored filter glass or require multiple coating runs leading to higher filter cost. Furthermore, conventional filters that are able to be made at reasonable costs (targeted at more cost-conscious markets like clinical microscopy) typically suffer from poor brightness, poor contrast, and poor reliability and durability. The lower brightness results from the use of colored filter glass in some instances, or from thinner and fewer coatings to reduce coating time, which lead to less steep filter edges (and thus wider exciter-emitter passband separation). Poorer contrast also results from the inability to position the edges optimally (due to poor steepness) as well as lower overall blocking when the coating thickness and the number of coatings are limited. Poor reliability and durability results from the use of soft coatings, which until now have been the only means by which low-cost fluorescence filters could be produced. These filters tend to “burn-out” when exposed to intense radiation for extended periods of time, and because the coatings are porous and absorb water vapor, they can degrade over time, especially in hot, humid, and corrosive environments. In addition, coatings that are not protected from physical contact by an extra glass substrate (such as those found on dichroic beamsplitters) are susceptible to damage when handled or when normal optics cleaning procedures are used.

Accordingly, there is a need for optical fluorescence filters having reduced cost for clinical microscopy applications, for example. There is also a need for such low cost filters to provide more brightness, a lower background light level and/or better contrast. In addition, there is a need for filters that have extremely high reliability and durability, especially in clinical applications, in which doctors and medical technicians must make repeated diagnoses of identical tissue samples, for example, even years after the samples are taken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Consistent with an aspect of the present disclosure, an optical device is provided which comprises a substrate having a surface and a plurality of hard-coating layers provided on the surface of the substrate. The plurality of hard-coating layers includes alternating first and second layers. The first layers have a first refractive index, n_L, and the second layers having a second refractive index, n_H, greater than the first refractive index. In addition, the plurality of hard-coating layers has a spectral characteristic, which has a passband. The passband is defined by a first passband wavelength λ_1passband and a second passband wavelength λ_2passband. The passband has a center wavelength and the minimum spectral distance between the optical density 4 points on the spectral curve is greater than 2% of the center wavelength. The spectral characteristic also has an average transmissivity at least equal to 80% over the passband. Further, the spectral characteristic has an average optical density greater than 4 over a first blocking band of wavelengths extending from a first blocking wavelength, λ_1block, to a second blocking wavelength, λ_2block, whereby the second blocking wavelength satisfies: λ_2block<0.9*((1−x)/(1+x))*λ_1block, Alternatively, the spectral characteristic has an average optical density greater than 4 over a second blocking band of wavelengths extending from a third blocking wavelength λ_3block to a fourth blocking wavelength, λ_4block, the fourth blocking wavelength satisfies: λ_4block>1.1*((1+x)/(1−x))*λ_3block, where $x=\frac{2}{\pi }\mathrm{arc}\sin \left(\frac{n_H-n_L}{n_H+n_L}\right).$ A first edge band of wavelengths is associated with a first edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the passband. The first edge band of wavelengths extends from λ_1passband to λ_1block, such that, at a first transmission wavelength, λ_1-50%, within the first edge band of wavelengths, the coating has a transmissivity of 50%.

• • λ_1passband, λ_1block, and λ_1-50%, satisfy: (λ_1passband−λ_1block)/)λ_1-50%<2%, and

A second edge band of wavelengths is associated with a second edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the passband. The second edge band of wavelengths extends from λ_2passband to λ_3block, such that, at a second transmission wavelength, λ_2-50%, within the second edge band of wavelengths, the coating has a transmissivity of 50%,

• • λ_2passband, λ_3block, and λ_2-50%, satisfy: (λ_3block−λ_2passband)/λ_2-50%<2%.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a filter consistent with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2 a-2c illustrate spectral characteristics associated with examples of the filter shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a fluorescence spectroscopy system consistent with a further aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a dichroic beamsplitter consistent with an additional aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a filter consistent with the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a spectral characteristic associated with the filter shown in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7 a-7c illustrate filter sets consistent with additional aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 8-15 illustrate spectral plots in connection with filters consistent with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Consistent with the present disclosure, a filter having high transmission, steep edges, and extended blocking is realized with a single coating provided on one side of a substrate. Instead of providing a plurality of quarter-wavelength-based Fabry-Perot type cavities, the single coating includes a portion that serves as a first edge filter for blocking wavelengths exceeding some predetermined wavelength, and another portion that acts as a second edge filter to block wavelengths below another wavelength. When these coating portions are formed on one another, their corresponding spectra are superimposed, and the resulting spectrum includes a wide passband (greater than 2% the center wavelength, measured as the minimum spectral distance between the optical density 4 points on the spectral curve) with blocking on either side. The coating also includes at least one additional portion for extended blocking. As a result, a filter having a spectrum with high transmissivity in the passband, steep passband edges, and extended blocking can be obtained in a single coating without the need to provide additional coatings on multiple substrates. Accordingly, multiple conventional filters are not necessary to obtain these desirable spectral characteristics. Overall costs are therefore reduced. In addition, a filter set (including an exciter filter, beam splitter and emission filter) having just three filter components can be realized, leading to a simpler system design with improved reliability.

Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

An exemplary filter 100 in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. Filter 100 includes a plurality of layers of alternating high (n_H) and low (n_L) refractive index, which constitute a coating 111 having a plurality of alternating refractive index hard coating layers on a first surface 120 of substrate 110. Typically, coating 111 includes hard coating layers, although soft coatings may also be employed. Substrate 110 typically includes a float glass or an optical glass. The low refractive index layers, if made of hard materials, typically include one of SiO₂, Ta₂O₅, Nb₂O₅, HfO₂, TiO₂, and Al₂O₅., while the high refractive index layers, if made of hard materials, include another one of SiO₂, Ta₂O₅, Nb₂O₅, HfO₂, TiO₂, and Al₂O₅ (each of the materials that either the high or low refractive index layers is physically hard and thus forms a “hard coating” layer). Coating 111 includes a first coating portion 112 having some of the alternating layers of high and low refractive index materials, which are configured to transmit shorter wavelengths and provide extended blocking at long wavelengths. A second coating portion 114, typically including those materials of first portion 112, is provided on first coating portion 112. Second portion 114 is configured to act as an edge filter to pass shorter wavelengths, and thus may be termed a “short-wave-pass layer.” A third coating portion 116, including other hard-coating layers, is next provided on second coating portion 114. Third coating portion 116 is configured as an edge filter to have high transmissivity at longer wavelengths and provide blocking over a limited range of shorter wavelengths. Third coating portion 116 may thus be termed a “long-wave-pass” layer. Fourth coating portion 118, also including hard-coating layers, may further be deposited on third coating portion 116. Fourth coating portion 118 is configured to provide extended blocking at shorter wavelengths. Third coating portion 116 and fourth coating portion 118 typically include those materials forming the alternating layers of first and second coating portions 112 and 114, respectively.

The first (112), second, (114), third (116), and fourth (118) coating portions are typically formed with high-precision, ion-assisted, ion-beam sputtering thin-film deposition techniques. Such known techniques, which may include optical monitoring, can be used to accurately deposit hundreds of layers. In particular, deposition of the first (112) and second (114) coating portions may be controlled in accordance with known algorithms and may be further controlled with known optical monitoring of the deposited materials. Deposition of the third (116) and fourth (118) coating portions may also be controlled with known algorithms. Optical monitoring of the deposition of the materials that constitute the third (116) and fourth (118) coating portions, however, may not be necessary. Rather, these depositions may be timed for specified periods of time instead of being subject to continuous optical monitoring. Known optimization algorithms may also be applied to further adjust the overall thickness of each of coating portions 112, 114, 116, and 118 and/or the thicknesses of individual high and low refractive index layers that constitute coating portions 112, 114, 116, and 118. In addition, consistent with the present disclosure, first coating portion 112 may be omitted if extended blocking (described in greater detail below) at longer wavelengths is not required. In that case, coating 111 includes coating portions 114, 116, and 118. Alternatively, if extended blocking at shorter wavelengths is not required, fourth coating portion 118 may be omitted, such that coating 111 includes coating portions 112, 114, and 116.

An exemplary spectral characteristic 200-3 of filter 100 consistent with the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 2c. The spectral characteristic has a passband 205, which is defined by a first passband wavelength λ_1passband and a second passband wavelength λ_2passband. Spectral characteristic 200-3 has an average transmissivity at least equal to 80% over passband 205 and an average optical density greater than 4, and may be more than 5, over first blocking band of wavelengths 215 extending from a first blocking wavelength, λ_1block, to a second blocking wavelength, λ_2block. As shown in FIG. 2c, λ_1block is less than λ_1passband. Here, “optical density” (OD) is defined as OD=−log₁₀(T), T being an average transmission measured between 0 and 1, and “average optical density” is defined as the optical density where T is the transmission averaged over a band of wavelengths,. Preferably, the second blocking wavelength satisfies: λ_2block<0.9*((1−x)/(1+x))*λ_1block, where $x=\frac{2}{\pi }\mathrm{arc}\sin \left(\frac{n_H-n_L}{n_H+n_L}\right).$

A value for λ_2block as determined by the above equations typically indicates that the blocking on the short-wavelength side of the passband occurs over a wider region than that which would result from a single quarter-wave stack of layers. The equations are adapted from the analysis in Section 5.2 (specifically Equations 5.15) from the text book Thin-Film Optical Filters (Third Edition, H. A. Macleod, Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol and Philadelphia, 2001), which is incorporated herein by reference. Blocking beyond that which would result from a single quarter-wave stack of layers (which itself is present due to function of the quarter-wave stack in forming the filter edge) is referred to as “extended blocking.” Such extended blocking over a wavelength region results from a more complex layer structure than merely a quarter-wave stack, and includes, for example, multiple quarter-wave stacks optimally combined into a single coating, or a “chirped” quarter-wave stack in which each of the high and low index layer thicknesses are monotonically increasing or decreasing over at least a portion of the coating.

In addition, spectral characteristic 200-3 has an average optical density greater than 4, and may be more than 5, over second blocking band of wavelengths 225 extending from a third blocking wavelength λ_3block to a fourth blocking wavelength, λ_4block, the fourth blocking wavelength satisfies: λ_4block>1.1*((1+x)/(1−x))*λ_3block,

Theoretically, the factors 0.9 and 1.1 in the above formulas do not define the upper and lower bounds of λ_2block and λ_4block, respectively. In practice, however, due to uncertainties in the precise values of the refractive indexes of the deposited layers that constitute coating 111 (such as inability to measure the index precisely and slight variations of the index with wavelength and environmental conditions) and other non-idealities (such as measurement uncertainty), the values of λ_2block and λ_4block that are actually observed can extend slightly below and above, respectively, that which is theoretically predicted. Accordingly, the above formulas take into account such non-idealities by incorporating a factor of 0.9 in the formula for λ_2block and a factor of 1.1 in the formula for λ_4block.in order to reflect that which may actually be observed.

A value for λ_4block as determined by the equation above may ensure that the blocking on the long-wavelength side of the passband is comprised of extended blocking, or blocking over a wider range than would result from a single quarter-wave stack of layers, in analogy to the description of short-wavelength-side extended blocking above.

A first edge band of wavelengths 230 is associated with first edge portion 210 adjacent passband 205. First edge band of wavelengths 230 extends from λ_1passband to λ_1block, such that, at a first transmission wavelength, λ_1-50%, within first edge band of wavelengths 230, coating 111 has a transmissivity of 50%, and λ_1passband, λ_1block, and λ_1-50%, satisfy: (λ_1passband−λ_1block)/λ_1-50%<2%.

Further, a second edge band of wavelengths 240 is associated with a second edge portion 220 of spectral characteristic 200 adjacent passband 205. Second edge band of wavelengths 240 extends from λ_2passband to λ_3block, and, as shown in FIG. 2c, λ_3block is greater than λ_2passband. In addition, at a second transmission wavelength, λ_2-50%, within second edge band of wavelengths 240, coating 111 has a transmissivity of 50%, and λ_2passband, λ_3block, and λ_2-50%, satisfy: (λ_3block−λ_2passband)/λ_2-50%<2%.

A first portion 201 of spectral characteristic 200-3 extending from λ_2block to λ_1EB has reduced transmission and constitutes a range of extended blocking associated with first coating portion 118. A second portion 202 of spectral characteristic 200 extending from λ_1EB to a center wavelength λ₀ of passband 205 constitutes part of a long-wave-pass edge filter spectrum attributable to third coating portion 116, and a third portion 203 extending from center wavelength λ₀ to λ_2EB constitutes part of a short-wave pass edge filter spectrum attributable to second coating portion 114. Extended blocking of portion 204 of spectral characteristic 200-3 extends from λ_2EB to λ_4block, and is attributable to coating portion 112.

In the above exemplary transmission characteristic 200-3, λ_2block may be substantially equal to 400 nm and λ_4block may be substantially equal to 700 nm. In addition, spectral characteristic 200-3 may have an average OD greater than 2 over a band of wavelengths extending from λ_4block (e.g., 700 nm) to 1000 nm or 1100 nm. λ_4block may also be substantially equal to 900 nm. Further, consistent with the present disclosure, the passband may have a bandwidth, measured as the minimum spectral distance between λ_1block and λ_3block,(both of which typically having an associated optical density of 4, and being referred to as “OD 4 points”), which is greater than 2% of the center wavelength λ₀. Accordingly, for example, for a center wavelength λ₀ of 550 nm, the passband bandwidth (i.e., the minimum spectral distance between λ_1block and λ_3block) is greater than 11 nm. Exemplary passband bandwidths may be between 10 nm and 80 nm and exemplary center wavelengths may be within 380 nm to 700 nm.

As noted above, first coating portion 112 may be omitted. In that case, the resulting spectral characteristic will lack extended blocking over longer wavelengths beyond λ_2EB (see spectral characteristic 200-1 in FIG. 2a). Also, if fourth coating portion 118 were omitted, the resulting spectral characteristic would not provide extended blocking at shorter wavelengths less than λ_1EB (see spectral characteristic 200-2 in FIG. 2b).

Returning to FIG. 1, consistent with a further aspect of the present disclosure, an anti-reflection coating 124 may be provided on a second surface 122 of substrate 110 opposite first surface 120. Anti-reflection coating 124 is typically configured to substantially prevent reflection of light having a wavelength within passband 205.

FIG. 3 illustrates a fluorescence spectroscopy system 300, such as a fluorescence microscope, consistent with a further aspect of the present disclosure. System 300 includes a source 305, which may be a broadband optical source or a laser. Light from source 305 is directed toward a collimating lens or lens group 310 and passed to an exciter filter 315, which may have a construction similar to that discussed above in regard to FIG. 1 and a spectral characteristic similar to that shown in FIG. 2. Filtered light transmitted through filter 315 is next reflected off of dichroic beamsplitter 320, and passed through lens or lens group 322 to sample 324. In response to such excitation light, sample 324 fluoresces and emits or outputs light at a wavelength different than the excitation light. Such emitted light passes through lens 322 and dichroic beamsplitter 320. The emitted light next passes through emission filter 326, which also has a similar construction as filter 100 but a transmission characteristic 600 (see FIG. 6, which is discussed in greater detail below) that differs from that shown in FIG. 2. The filtered emission light passes through lenses or lens groups 328 and 330 and is then sensed by visual inspection or with a detector 332, which, for example, may generate an image of a portion of sample 324. As further shown in FIG. 3, filters 315, 320, and 326 may be mounted in housing 380.

Filters consistent with the present disclosure may be incorporated into commercially available fluorescence microscopes, such as the BX41 microscope available from Olympus America Inc.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show dichroic beam splitter 320 and emission filter 326, respectively, in greater detail. Dichroic beam splitter 320 includes a hard-coating 412 including a plurality of hard alternating refractive index layers provided on substrate 410, and emission filter 326 has a coating 511, which includes first (512), second (514), third (516), and fourth (518) coating portions, each of which including alternating hard-coating refractive index layers. Coating portions 512, 514, 516, and 518 have a similar structure as coating portions 112,114,116, and 118, respectively. The individual high (n_H2) and low (n_L2) refractive index layers that make up each of layers coating portions 512, 514, 516, and 518 may have the same or different refractive indices as layers coating portions 112, 114, 116, and 118.

The spectral characteristic 600 of emission filter 326 is shown in FIG. 6 and is similar in shape to spectral characteristic 200 shown in FIG. 2. Spectral characteristic 600 has a passband 605, which is defined by passband wavelengths λ_1-2passband and λ_2-2passband. Spectral characteristic 600 has an average transmissivity at least equal to 80% over passband 605, and an average optical density greater than 4 over a lower blocking band of wavelengths 615 extending from wavelength λ_1-2block to wavelength λ_2-2block. Preferably, λ_2-2block satisfies:

λ_2block<0.9*((1−x)/(1+x))*λ_1block,

In addition, spectral characteristic 600 has an average optical density greater than 4 over an upper blocking band of wavelengths 625 extending from wavelength λ_3-2block to wavelength, λ_4-2block, λ_4-2block satisfying: λ_4block>1.1*((1+x)/(1−x))*λ_3block, where $x=\frac{2}{\pi }\mathrm{arc}\sin \left(\frac{n_{H2}-n_{L2}}{n_{H2}+n_{L2}}\right),$

A lower edge band of wavelengths 630 is associated with a lower edge portion 610 adjacent passband 605. Lower edge band of wavelengths 630 extends from λ_1-2passband to λ_1-2block, such that, at wavelength λ_1-2-50%, within lower edge band of wavelengths 630, coating 111 has a transmissivity of 50%, and λ_1-2passband, λ_1-2block, and λ_1-2-50%, satisfy: (λ_1-2passband−λ_1-2block)/λ_1-2-50%<2%.

Further, an upper edge band of wavelengths 640 is associated with an upper edge portion 620 of spectral characteristic 600 adjacent passband 605. Upper edge band of wavelengths 640 extends from λ_2-2passband to λ_3-2block, such that, at wavelength λ_2-50%, within upper edge band of wavelengths 640, coating 511 (FIG. 5) has a transmissivity of 50%, and λ_2-2passband, λ_3-2block, and λ_2-2-50%, satisfy: (λ_3-2block−λ_2-2passband)/λ_2-2-50%<2%.

A first portion 601 of spectral characteristic 600 extending from λ_2-2block to λ_1-2EB has reduced transmission and constitutes a range of extended blocking associated with coating portion 518. A second portion 602 of spectral characteristic 600 extending from λ_1-2EB to a center wavelength λ_2-0 of passband 605 constitutes part of long-wave-pass edge filter spectrum attributable to third coating portion 516, and a third portion 603 extending from center wavelength λ_2-0 to λ_2-2EB constitutes part of a short-wave pass edge filter spectrum attributable to second coating portion 514. Extended blocking of portion 604 of spectral characteristic 600 extends from λ_2-2EB to λ_4-2block, and is attributable to coating portion 512. Passband 605, measured as the minimum spectral distance between λ_1-2block and λ_3-2block, has a bandwidth similar to that of the passband bandwidth of spectral characteristic 200-3 discussed above in connection with FIG. 2c. Both λ_1-2block and λ_3-2block are OD 4 points.

It is noted that if extended blocking is not required at longer wavelengths, coating portion 512 may be omitted, such that extended blocking of portion 604 would not be provided for wavelengths greater than λ_2-2EB. In that case, spectral characteristic 600 would resemble spectral characteristic 200-1 shown in FIG. 2a. Likewise, if desired, coating portion 518 may be omitted, such that extended blocking would not be provided at wavelengths less than λ_1-2EB, and the resulting spectral characteristic would be similar to spectral characteristic 200-2 shown in FIG. 2b.

Returning to FIGS. 3-5, layer 412 of dichroic beam splitter 320 is configured to reflect light within the passband of exciter filter 315 (corresponding to passband 205 discussed above). In that case, the excitation light wavelength is preferably within the lower blocking band of wavelengths 615, and coating 511 is configured to pass light emitted from the sample at a wavelength within second blocking band of wavelengths 225 (see FIG. 2). In addition, layer 412 is configured to pass the emission light. Preferably, the emission light has a wavelength within passband 605. With filters 315, 320, and 326 so configured, relatively little excitation light from 305 reaches detector 332, thereby improving the quality of the image output by fluorescence spectroscopy system 300.

Alternatively, the locations of detector 332 and source 305 may be switched, as well as the locations of filters 315 and 326. In this example, dichroic beam splitter 320 passes excitation light, which has a wavelength within passband 205, and reflects light at the emission light wavelength (in passband 605), such that the emission light is reflected toward detector 332.

In FIG. 3, each of filters 315, 320, and 326 may be considered as constituting a filter set 382. Accordingly, since each filter has an associated substrate, filter set 382 has three substrates. Consistent with an additional aspect of the present disclosure, however, the number of substrates in a filter set may be reduced by providing multiple coatings on a single substrate. Examples of alternative filter sets 701-703 will next be described with reference to FIGS. 7a-7c, respectively.

FIG. 7 a illustrates a filter set 701 including right-angle prisms constituting substrates 705 and 710. Coating 111 of filter 100 may be provided in contact with side surface 720 of substrate 705, while coating 412 of filter 320 may be provided on hypotenuse surface 721. In addition, coating 511 of filter 326 may be provided on side surface 724 of substrate 710. As further shown in FIG. 7a, coating 412 is spaced from hypotenuse surface 722 of substrate 710 by an air gap 715.

Filter set 702 shown in FIG. 7b is similar to filter set 701, however, air gap 715 is filled with a conventional optical cement 716. Further, in filter set 703 shown in FIG. 7c, coating 412 contacts both hypotenuse surfaces 721 and 722 of substrates 705 and 710, respectively. In each of FIGS. 7a-7c, surfaces 721 and 722 face one another so that filters sets 701-703 have a substantially cubical structure.

Exemplary spectra associated with filter sets consistent with the present disclosure will next be described with reference to FIGS. 8-15. FIG. 8 is a composite of measured exciter filter (dashed curve), dichroic beamsplitter (dotted curve), and emitter filter (solid curve) spectra over a wavelength range of 300 nm to 1100 nm, and FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of these spectra over a range of 350 nm-500 nm. In FIGS. 8 and 9, transmission (%) is plotted as a function of wavelength. FIG. 10 is equivalent to FIG. 8, but optical density (“OD”, where OD=−log₁₀(T), T being a transmission measured between 0 and 1) is plotted instead of transmission. FIG. 11 illustrates theoretical OD plots which closely approximate the measured OD plots shown in FIG. 10. The curves shown in FIGS. 8-11 are associated with filters to be used in connection with a sample including a known Calcofluor White dye.

Similar plots were obtained in connection with a filter set suitable for use with samples including fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), as shown in FIGS. 12-15. Namely, measured transmission vs. wavelength plots over 300 nm-1100 nm and 400 nm-600 nm are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, respectively. Here also, the dashed curve in FIGS. 12 and 13 corresponds to the exciter filter spectrum, the dotted curve in these figures corresponds to the dichroic beam splitter spectrum, and the solid curve in these figures corresponds to the emitter filter spectrum. An OD plot equivalent to FIG. 12 is shown in FIG. 14, which closely tracks the theoretical OD plot shown in FIG. 15.

As discussed above, the present disclosure describes a filter in which a coating, preferably provided on a single substrate, has sharp passband edges as well as extended blocking. Filter sets employing such filters can be realized with three or fewer substrates, thereby simplifying system design and reducing costs.

Tables 1 and 2 below list exemplary individual layer thicknesses associated with the exciter filter, dichroic beamsplitter, and emitter filter spectra discussed above. Tables 1 and 2 correspond to the above described filter sets for use in connection with Calcofluor White and FITC dyes, respectively.

It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

	TABLE 1
	Exciter	Dichroic	Emitter
	Thickness (μm):	Thickness (μm):	Thickness (μm):
	18.10235289	4.30942641	15.30518641
	Total Layers: 252	Total Layers: 42	Total Layers: 194
Layer	Material	Thickness (nm)	Material	Thickness (nm)	Material	Thickness (nm)
1	Ta2O5	21.542528	Ta2O5	18.000001	Nb2O5	15
2	SiO2	55.843133	SiO2	45.229547	SiO2	53.841577
3	Ta2O5	30.894336	Ta2O5	143.803044	Nb2O5	26.05551
4	SiO2	53.362462	SiO2	198.835667	SiO2	59.414165
5	Ta2O5	35.710448	Ta2O5	120.273508	Nb2O5	30.883961
6	SiO2	52.515375	SiO2	180.766523	SiO2	60.058802
7	Ta2O5	32.47336	Ta2O5	126.919956	Nb2O5	30.839114
8	SiO2	56.175247	SiO2	209.7412	SiO2	60.260543
9	Ta2O5	37.12421	Ta2O5	140.751131	Nb2O5	29.978574
10	SiO2	52.311916	SiO2	216.766227	SiO2	60.230434
11	Ta2O5	38.088323	Ta2O5	141.535809	Nb2O5	36.339558
12	SiO2	55.228444	SiO2	219.386661	SiO2	60.128235
13	Ta2O5	36.11487	Ta2O5	141.508871	Nb2O5	33.433398
14	SiO2	56.085383	SiO2	219.067385	SiO2	60.27866
15	Ta2O5	35.883605	Ta2O5	143.744437	Nb2O5	32.321118
16	SiO2	53.428594	SiO2	217.84547	SiO2	60.290167
17	Ta2O5	38.749063	Ta2O5	142.615164	Nb2O5	32.971644
18	SiO2	55.005335	SiO2	219.96471	SiO2	60.084473
19	Ta2O5	33.125595	Ta2O5	148.345141	Nb2O5	38.854117
20	SiO2	53.620042	SiO2	74.853541	SiO2	60.333791
21	Ta2O5	38.709828	Ta2O5	27.5237	Nb2O5	30.131382
22	SiO2	55.970609	SiO2	63.705179	SiO2	60.213917
23	Ta2O5	35.304189	Ta2O5	50.085785	Nb2O5	36.413843
24	SiO2	55.767196	SiO2	82.713346	SiO2	60.250527
25	Ta2O5	36.78825	Ta2O5	18.867521	Nb2O5	34.726858
26	SiO2	55.150101	SiO2	87.295223	SiO2	60.257074
27	Ta2O5	35.74457	Ta2O5	57.591256	Nb2O5	32.771514
28	SiO2	57.804198	SiO2	48.795137	SiO2	60.214228
29	Ta2O5	36.902705	Ta2O5	31.273588	Nb2O5	35.342404
30	SiO2	55.763948	SiO2	87.382707	SiO2	60.189456
31	Ta2O5	35.352542	Ta2O5	57.951009	Nb2O5	37.402842
32	SiO2	56.062901	SiO2	25.668132	SiO2	60.117843
33	Ta2O5	34.279367	Ta2O5	54.839717	Nb2O5	30.870974
34	SiO2	57.80494	SiO2	78.482223	SiO2	60.43428
35	Ta2O5	35.60142	Ta2O5	38.818646	Nb2O5	35.537588
36	SiO2	56.591019	SiO2	46.407176	SiO2	60.037206
37	Ta2O5	33.656702	Ta2O5	51.138684	Nb2O5	36.374396
38	SiO2	57.143868	SiO2	82.982884	SiO2	60.214403
39	Ta2O5	35.719864	Ta2O5	26.708898	Nb2O5	34.3149
40	SiO2	58.257933	SiO2	51.859533	SiO2	60.235292
41	Ta2O5	36.531073	Ta2O5	61.104302	Nb2O5	33.271157
42	SiO2	56.307264	SiO2	108.277778	SiO2	60.168732
43	Ta2O5	32.680998			Nb2O5	36.119813
44	SiO2	50.733023			SiO2	60.207085
45	Ta2O5	28.023277			Nb2O5	33.464954
46	SiO2	51.196887			SiO2	60.149693
47	Ta2O5	19.142286			Nb2O5	36.00308
48	SiO2	50.629785			SiO2	60.403769
49	Ta2O5	26.716951			Nb2O5	34.160149
50	SiO2	55.850154			SiO2	60.124751
51	Ta2O5	29.863823			Nb2O5	35.2811
52	SiO2	55.110524			SiO2	60.26672
53	Ta2O5	35.894137			Nb2O5	32.10233
54	SiO2	47.843927			SiO2	60.193407
55	Ta2O5	37.041665			Nb2O5	37.316571
56	SiO2	45.381408			SiO2	60.137124
57	Ta2O5	29.600061			Nb2O5	35.867151
58	SiO2	40.860677			SiO2	60.39107
59	Ta2O5	29.372521			Nb2O5	31.036834
60	SiO2	46.399012			SiO2	60.174082
61	Ta2O5	22.842174			Nb2O5	36.978492
62	SiO2	49.815853			SiO2	60.319609
63	Ta2O5	36.274424			Nb2O5	33.374732
64	SiO2	54.324142			SiO2	60.181133
65	Ta2O5	40.458827			Nb2O5	35.861868
66	SiO2	75.141758			SiO2	60.307815
67	Ta2O5	54.975978			Nb2O5	33.59944
68	SiO2	80.679719			SiO2	60.193744
69	Ta2O5	54.217618			Nb2O5	33.456941
70	SiO2	78.526051			SiO2	60.489912
71	Ta2O5	55.168441			Nb2O5	36.443989
72	SiO2	71.834635			SiO2	59.841639
73	Ta2O5	48.329459			Nb2O5	26.27951
74	SiO2	72.58696			SiO2	60.075569
75	Ta2O5	43.503151			Nb2O5	38.213174
76	SiO2	73.635288			SiO2	60.821373
77	Ta2O5	49.566789			Nb2O5	85.270905
78	SiO2	72.455856			SiO2	92.173209
79	Ta2O5	51.439232			Nb2O5	54.480764
80	SiO2	75.609158			SiO2	96.399518
81	Ta2O5	52.108783			Nb2O5	56.282028
82	SiO2	71.153379			SiO2	89.371698
83	Ta2O5	53.7385			Nb2O5	59.277907
84	SiO2	73.672009			SiO2	86.689226
85	Ta2O5	48.097387			Nb2O5	55.262139
86	SiO2	75.728818			SiO2	92.000607
87	Ta2O5	48.340231			Nb2O5	59.871431
88	SiO2	73.564619			SiO2	91.317968
89	Ta2O5	50.903301			Nb2O5	49.138615
90	SiO2	74.184541			SiO2	91.944998
91	Ta2O5	45.757418			Nb2O5	59.19566
92	SiO2	71.307732			SiO2	90.656734
93	Ta2O5	52.953195			Nb2O5	55.054019
94	SiO2	75.18989			SiO2	90.676684
95	Ta2O5	51.368575			Nb2O5	55.917677
96	SiO2	70.218863			SiO2	92.214702
97	Ta2O5	50.998686			Nb2O5	53.847302
98	SiO2	77.100628			SiO2	90.031406
99	Ta2O5	49.206599			Nb2O5	57.238435
100	SiO2	72.037935			SiO2	94.243958
101	Ta2O5	47.827542			Nb2O5	55.83927
102	SiO2	75.489039			SiO2	87.603422
103	Ta2O5	47.501052			Nb2O5	53.717509
104	SiO2	75.590678			SiO2	93.646056
105	Ta2O5	54.441313			Nb2O5	57.562274
106	SiO2	72.561606			SiO2	92.557977
107	Ta2O5	46.160845			Nb2O5	57.247855
108	SiO2	75.730994			SiO2	94.723869
109	Ta2O5	49.702663			Nb2O5	64.04146
110	SiO2	73.981934			SiO2	140.276505
111	Ta2O5	49.986898			Nb2O5	81.152058
112	SiO2	74.587345			SiO2	88.362474
113	Ta2O5	45.299428			Nb2O5	61.31521
114	SiO2	75.231447			SiO2	100.353597
115	Ta2O5	54.377292			Nb2O5	57.315144
116	SiO2	74.795316			SiO2	97.686937
117	Ta2O5	46.568703			Nb2O5	74.336194
118	SiO2	74.454398			SiO2	132.284981
119	Ta2O5	51.044388			Nb2O5	71.632993
120	SiO2	75.266462			SiO2	100.249233
121	Ta2O5	47.624753			Nb2O5	61.480426
122	SiO2	72.993341			SiO2	105.27203
123	Ta2O5	47.964037			Nb2O5	73.607006
124	SiO2	74.330836			SiO2	127.441961
125	Ta2O5	54.166437			Nb2O5	70.243021
126	SiO2	78.83242			SiO2	99.79181
127	Ta2O5	46.652477			Nb2O5	70.395986
128	SiO2	69.698416			SiO2	120.687337
129	Ta2O5	49.419439			Nb2O5	80.646146
130	SiO2	74.878913			SiO2	105.629715
131	Ta2O5	48.650384			Nb2O5	66.512313
132	SiO2	77.469953			SiO2	127.300651
133	Ta2O5	53.886899			Nb2O5	90.342434
134	SiO2	78.690787			SiO2	109.779167
135	Ta2O5	58.564139			Nb2O5	64.40587
136	SiO2	80.162979			SiO2	99.077318
137	Ta2O5	71.78323			Nb2O5	68.822795
138	SiO2	86.102169			SiO2	134.415894
139	Ta2O5	55.204927			Nb2O5	81.319024
140	SiO2	87.572558			SiO2	102.463352
141	Ta2O5	50.601814			Nb2O5	67.198258
142	SiO2	68.136137			SiO2	123.365193
143	Ta2O5	50.349154			Nb2O5	87.583061
144	SiO2	86.178214			SiO2	121.883831
145	Ta2O5	58.186181			Nb2O5	75.342968
146	SiO2	73.681454			SiO2	133.570567
147	Ta2O5	70.259044			Nb2O5	82.365214
148	SiO2	98.260809			SiO2	102.90187
149	Ta2O5	56.657859			Nb2O5	87.2159
150	SiO2	79.960814			SiO2	168.316217
151	Ta2O5	61.9969			Nb2O5	86.089948
152	SiO2	85.68654			SiO2	143.549416
153	Ta2O5	58.487597			Nb2O5	81.55587
154	SiO2	78.844243			SiO2	119.358623
155	Ta2O5	70.784963			Nb2O5	87.987123
156	SiO2	89.081327			SiO2	150.803977
157	Ta2O5	56.026038			Nb2O5	90.977229
158	SiO2	83.635559			SiO2	156.064747
159	Ta2O5	65.467321			Nb2O5	90.759677
160	SiO2	89.225853			SiO2	135.613339
161	Ta2O5	71.020416			Nb2O5	78.077551
162	SiO2	89.115342			SiO2	125.232036
163	Ta2O5	64.229848			Nb2O5	83.932929
164	SiO2	88.504899			SiO2	148.934923
165	Ta2O5	56.637385			Nb2O5	95.680094
166	SiO2	86.461303			SiO2	148.743293
167	Ta2O5	59.587057			Nb2O5	87.985304
168	SiO2	90.374743			SiO2	151.172071
169	Ta2O5	62.67727			Nb2O5	94.80538
170	SiO2	97.243763			SiO2	155.204918
171	Ta2O5	65.378098			Nb2O5	90.204983
172	SiO2	93.196831			SiO2	132.993524
173	Ta2O5	74.062652			Nb2O5	81.763033
174	SiO2	95.769772			SiO2	147.14212
175	Ta2O5	63.635611			Nb2O5	103.569699
176	SiO2	95.215149			SiO2	161.029059
177	Ta2O5	59.20011			Nb2O5	99.402575
178	SiO2	98.399319			SiO2	154.260901
179	Ta2O5	74.275704			Nb2O5	102.986509
180	SiO2	101.091627			SiO2	165.499705
181	Ta2O5	69.877353			Nb2O5	111.317219
182	SiO2	106.71887			SiO2	167.574838
183	Ta2O5	71.073631			Nb2O5	115.804816
184	SiO2	104.115398			SiO2	166.510097
185	Ta2O5	69.662266			Nb2O5	112.668699
186	SiO2	100.11951			SiO2	162.864546
187	Ta2O5	69.377336			Nb2O5	103.082378
188	SiO2	104.399829			SiO2	153.116153
189	Ta2O5	75.096851			Nb2O5	108.040025
190	SiO2	105.517552			SiO2	164.27813
191	Ta2O5	70.843547			Nb2O5	114.895638
192	SiO2	111.700199			SiO2	162.726583
193	Ta2O5	76.455848			Nb2O5	111.21254
194	SiO2	100.059876			SiO2	78.946972
195	Ta2O5	73.523768
196	SiO2	104.669083
197	Ta2O5	63.613775
198	SiO2	120.318062
199	Ta2O5	89.34781
200	SiO2	110.531615
201	Ta2O5	74.655493
202	SiO2	109.966102
203	Ta2O5	73.48166
204	SiO2	119.086024
205	Ta2O5	83.73169
206	SiO2	100.309196
207	Ta2O5	75.324665
208	SiO2	97.320858
209	Ta2O5	69.045354
210	SiO2	107.551845
211	Ta2O5	91.440427
212	SiO2	119.775905
213	Ta2O5	66.670026
214	SiO2	118.637034
215	Ta2O5	79.590138
216	SiO2	129.284989
217	Ta2O5	96.234672
218	SiO2	125.081023
219	Ta2O5	82.820693
220	SiO2	129.361088
221	Ta2O5	73.167236
222	SiO2	122.415306
223	Ta2O5	86.141677
224	SiO2	137.47071
225	Ta2O5	91.663801
226	SiO2	123.466319
227	Ta2O5	88.789668
228	SiO2	142.853947
229	Ta2O5	82.699299
230	SiO2	112.973376
231	Ta2O5	75.808449
232	SiO2	116.289632
233	Ta2O5	103.393429
234	SiO2	131.623678
235	Ta2O5	135.874235
236	SiO2	139.086712
237	Ta2O5	110.938326
238	SiO2	148.137695
239	Ta2O5	119.290778
240	SiO2	148.727869
241	Ta2O5	109.294552
242	SiO2	158.719661
243	Ta2O5	104.603832
244	SiO2	153.67652
245	Ta2O5	114.623631
246	SiO2	152.308865
247	Ta2O5	102.906211
248	SiO2	160.394283
249	Ta2O5	100.052054
250	SiO2	154.428969
251	Ta2O5	99.935121
252	SiO2	69.518357

	TABLE 2
	Exciter	Dichroic	Emitter
	Thickness (μm):	Thickness (μm):	Thickness (μm):
	15.46312828	4.78682926	16.51720336
	Total Layers: 195	Total Layers: 32	Total Layers: 199
Layer	Material	Thickness (nm)	Material	Thickness (nm)	Material	Thickness (nm)
1	Nb2O5	103.020435	Nb2O5	19.755258	Nb2O5	120.520412
2	SiO2	184.969867	SiO2	249.436778	SiO2	208.471674
3	Nb2O5	105.65992	Nb2O5	102.667383	Nb2O5	98.844384
4	SiO2	177.696611	SiO2	226.406451	SiO2	149.332901
5	Nb2O5	111.787595	Nb2O5	53.47712	Nb2O5	98.279852
6	SiO2	166.111328	SiO2	240.811076	SiO2	162.657065
7	Nb2O5	175.482955	Nb2O5	70.760978	Nb2O5	111.307612
8	SiO2	152.596466	SiO2	232.649733	SiO2	182.747042
9	Nb2O5	99.839977	Nb2O5	74.140776	Nb2O5	101.10863
10	SiO2	162.547624	SiO2	231.888658	SiO2	165.814661
11	Nb2O5	117.107037	Nb2O5	77.34542	Nb2O5	107.951598
12	SiO2	166.03817	SiO2	230.346511	SiO2	165.702027
13	Nb2O5	105.336144	Nb2O5	77.00804	Nb2O5	110.77163
14	SiO2	168.556027	SiO2	230.522453	SiO2	164.502195
15	Nb2O5	105.872654	Nb2O5	75.358277	Nb2O5	104.819083
16	SiO2	160.59604	SiO2	232.094873	SiO2	173.543722
17	Nb2O5	101.415851	Nb2O5	75.480988	Nb2O5	93.246141
18	SiO2	162.822862	SiO2	231.775947	SiO2	166.941351
19	Nb2O5	100.420397	Nb2O5	77.171654	Nb2O5	110.454611
20	SiO2	154.47743	SiO2	231.110905	SiO2	156.201891
21	Nb2O5	88.909405	Nb2O5	76.930145	Nb2O5	118.86173
22	SiO2	130.390877	SiO2	231.405803	SiO2	168.680866
23	Nb2O5	81.697069	Nb2O5	75.551257	Nb2O5	68.573262
24	SiO2	141.646947	SiO2	230.497556	SiO2	152.615185
25	Nb2O5	82.555605	Nb2O5	75.62217	Nb2O5	77.401487
26	SiO2	145.341923	SiO2	233.252254	SiO2	149.403322
27	Nb2O5	114.93102	Nb2O5	70.037093	Nb2O5	76.636857
28	SiO2	154.548707	SiO2	252.562806	SiO2	155.659656
29	Nb2O5	94.476203	Nb2O5	47.366784	Nb2O5	126.190604
30	SiO2	136.529517	SiO2	264.999891	SiO2	177.406209
31	Nb2O5	66.101724	Nb2O5	44.978082	Nb2O5	118.182198
32	SiO2	119.076319	SiO2	143.416145	SiO2	134.96742
33	Nb2O5	79.729322			Nb2O5	82.964814
34	SiO2	130.874119			SiO2	134.253757
35	Nb2O5	77.992525			Nb2O5	99.632888
36	SiO2	107.485394			SiO2	136.967071
37	Nb2O5	65.800567			Nb2O5	84.309472
38	SiO2	128.134247			SiO2	125.187075
39	Nb2O5	90.910325			Nb2O5	91.372536
40	SiO2	130.795882			SiO2	151.253421
41	Nb2O5	77.295454			Nb2O5	77.281077
42	SiO2	112.503147			SiO2	123.411921
43	Nb2O5	84.909856			Nb2O5	87.053171
44	SiO2	120.81689			SiO2	157.742993
45	Nb2O5	59.418177			Nb2O5	90.646247
46	SiO2	112.953288			SiO2	123.049582
47	Nb2O5	61.10262			Nb2O5	76.703209
48	SiO2	111.503659			SiO2	116.839938
49	Nb2O5	65.958775			Nb2O5	80.310636
50	SiO2	127.125449			SiO2	153.946123
51	Nb2O5	85.430322			Nb2O5	78.805046
52	SiO2	112.775188			SiO2	117.543485
53	Nb2O5	56.630195			Nb2O5	79.153398
54	SiO2	105.40047			SiO2	118.904155
55	Nb2O5	78.765413			Nb2O5	95.762182
56	SiO2	110.84542			SiO2	149.672109
57	Nb2O5	95.071038			Nb2O5	81.465016
58	SiO2	113.979483			SiO2	115.576654
59	Nb2O5	54.909864			Nb2O5	73.183432
60	SiO2	109.144907			SiO2	115.54896
61	Nb2O5	61.138387			Nb2O5	90.276731
62	SiO2	101.5793			SiO2	157.761513
63	Nb2O5	63.953512			Nb2O5	76.449894
64	SiO2	115.694758			SiO2	110.97485
65	Nb2O5	92.745136			Nb2O5	66.878672
66	SiO2	117.584656			SiO2	109.007813
67	Nb2O5	65.394942			Nb2O5	76.535182
68	SiO2	97.007268			SiO2	101.204588
69	Nb2O5	63.950919			Nb2O5	73.043965
70	SiO2	99.003518			SiO2	63.705658
71	Nb2O5	53.62224			Nb2O5	80.258136
72	SiO2	98.115648			SiO2	103.316583
73	Nb2O5	60.656343			Nb2O5	69.991268
74	SiO2	89.521684			SiO2	105.298699
75	Nb2O5	63.642403			Nb2O5	60.098474
76	SiO2	95.056625			SiO2	107.357243
77	Nb2O5	58.955796			Nb2O5	72.011096
78	SiO2	94.019429			SiO2	101.801649
79	Nb2O5	59.79292			Nb2O5	68.272344
80	SiO2	95.337034			SiO2	106.96859
81	Nb2O5	58.781			Nb2O5	72.521376
82	SiO2	92.690163			SiO2	89.234517
83	Nb2O5	62.99268			Nb2O5	58.598235
84	SiO2	94.153333			SiO2	115.600753
85	Nb2O5	55.447279			Nb2O5	69.202224
86	SiO2	98.487741			SiO2	107.014337
87	Nb2O5	60.725646			Nb2O5	72.455308
88	SiO2	89.544252			SiO2	97.342236
89	Nb2O5	63.601086			Nb2O5	63.113257
90	SiO2	100.274483			SiO2	135.724689
91	Nb2O5	52.206565			Nb2O5	46.793414
92	SiO2	87.663852			SiO2	72.010233
93	Nb2O5	64.740092			Nb2O5	80.56155
94	SiO2	101.752041			SiO2	123.411312
95	Nb2O5	55.720872			Nb2O5	76.424644
96	SiO2	96.903455			SiO2	64.204657
97	Nb2O5	56.692561			Nb2O5	102.34953
98	SiO2	91.511539			SiO2	71.179041
99	Nb2O5	61.22283			Nb2O5	57.076149
100	SiO2	96.596527			SiO2	72.559939
101	Nb2O5	62.779161			Nb2O5	33.97113
102	SiO2	89.93581			SiO2	72.734555
103	Nb2O5	62.534761			Nb2O5	39.740447
104	SiO2	92.739907			SiO2	73.051133
105	Nb2O5	54.171416			Nb2O5	45.354032
106	SiO2	96.849103			SiO2	74.135476
107	Nb2O5	63.939278			Nb2O5	49.428548
108	SiO2	80.191432			SiO2	73.556512
109	Nb2O5	65.397114			Nb2O5	45.257904
110	SiO2	105.817135			SiO2	74.133337
111	Nb2O5	60.031711			Nb2O5	49.200523
112	SiO2	75.121866			SiO2	73.628251
113	Nb2O5	59.984846			Nb2O5	39.769374
114	SiO2	103.875707			SiO2	73.346996
115	Nb2O5	59.988706			Nb2O5	49.874938
116	SiO2	90.589629			SiO2	72.872096
117	Nb2O5	53.800292			Nb2O5	46.727442
118	SiO2	96.321289			SiO2	72.439376
119	Nb2O5	77.09225			Nb2O5	46.257557
120	SiO2	73.185234			SiO2	73.803087
121	Nb2O5	61.726588			Nb2O5	49.63358
122	SiO2	110.071331			SiO2	73.440207
123	Nb2O5	58.450469			Nb2O5	42.555636
124	SiO2	52.926246			SiO2	73.900884
125	Nb2O5	81.093005			Nb2O5	48.92588
126	SiO2	39.60735			SiO2	73.476829
127	Nb2O5	30.972587			Nb2O5	45.373354
128	SiO2	63.717129			SiO2	74.350068
129	Nb2O5	28.812372			Nb2O5	45.205053
130	SiO2	65.726825			SiO2	75.271069
131	Nb2O5	51.930921			Nb2O5	47.340812
132	SiO2	62.658775			SiO2	75.510507
133	Nb2O5	44.689331			Nb2O5	45.316969
134	SiO2	61.304026			SiO2	74.669696
135	Nb2O5	38.032444			Nb2O5	46.348844
136	SiO2	60.894131			SiO2	73.954689
137	Nb2O5	49.786027			Nb2O5	47.590089
138	SiO2	63.123868			SiO2	73.988145
139	Nb2O5	36.831253			Nb2O5	41.787049
140	SiO2	65.654231			SiO2	73.831633
141	Nb2O5	37.365471			Nb2O5	49.757488
142	SiO2	65.629594			SiO2	73.720914
143	Nb2O5	44.090334			Nb2O5	48.296369
144	SiO2	65.669747			SiO2	73.061434
145	Nb2O5	40.460522			Nb2O5	45.376895
146	SiO2	65.039624			SiO2	73.641224
147	Nb2O5	43.94835			Nb2O5	47.904826
148	SiO2	64.973048			SiO2	74.358153
149	Nb2O5	39.135381			Nb2O5	43.689922
150	SiO2	65.675389			SiO2	74.667973
151	Nb2O5	35.757871			Nb2O5	48.432513
152	SiO2	65.175315			SiO2	74.459908
153	Nb2O5	45.600403			Nb2O5	43.394492
154	SiO2	65.847471			SiO2	73.891471
155	Nb2O5	41.851528			Nb2O5	47.151012
156	SiO2	65.7225			SiO2	73.265274
157	Nb2O5	37.057438			Nb2O5	47.944367
158	SiO2	66.186088			SiO2	72.970548
159	Nb2O5	41.607851			Nb2O5	50.739433
160	SiO2	65.499169			SiO2	73.294839
161	Nb2O5	43.656602			Nb2O5	43.792746
162	SiO2	64.882681			SiO2	74.191749
163	Nb2O5	34.963028			Nb2O5	42.503653
164	SiO2	65.276026			SiO2	73.823048
165	Nb2O5	42.46295			Nb2O5	50.548065
166	SiO2	66.08707			SiO2	72.500106
167	Nb2O5	45.406729			Nb2O5	44.227006
168	SiO2	65.656958			SiO2	72.028742
169	Nb2O5	39.090325			Nb2O5	52.30712
170	SiO2	64.649759			SiO2	72.564394
171	Nb2O5	35.493024			Nb2O5	43.051055
172	SiO2	65.234651			SiO2	73.124878
173	Nb2O5	43.949858			Nb2O5	50.009649
174	SiO2	65.772432			SiO2	72.960645
175	Nb2O5	40.226738			Nb2O5	43.067512
176	SiO2	66.337577			SiO2	72.434957
177	Nb2O5	40.886654			Nb2O5	42.759632
178	SiO2	65.82086			SiO2	72.609111
179	Nb2O5	38.368344			Nb2O5	51.113242
180	SiO2	64.442884			SiO2	72.310448
181	Nb2O5	43.148079			Nb2O5	49.032682
182	SiO2	60.270591			SiO2	73.161244
183	Nb2O5	36.174955			Nb2O5	38.189301
184	SiO2	60.597924			SiO2	71.289535
185	Nb2O5	42.938963			Nb2O5	40.751881
186	SiO2	62.107829			SiO2	72.554329
187	Nb2O5	43.297542			Nb2O5	44.046474
188	SiO2	63.033125			SiO2	71.462947
189	Nb2O5	18.612166			Nb2O5	27.650176
190	SiO2	59.632382			SiO2	69.256787
191	Nb2O5	39.684558			Nb2O5	37.674692
192	SiO2	62.537565			SiO2	67.540846
193	Nb2O5	28.592641			Nb2O5	31.042601
194	SiO2	47.574953			SiO2	57.342841
195	Nb2O5	26.307995			Nb2O5	49.926189
196					SiO2	62.411325
197					Nb2O5	43.555442
198					SiO2	60.999258
199					Nb2O5	20.686301

Claims

1. An optical device, comprising: a substrate having a surface; and a plurality of layers provided on the surface of the substrate, the plurality of layers including alternating first and second layers, the first layers having a first refractive index, nL, and the second layers having a second refractive index, nH, greater than the first refractive index, wherein the plurality of layers has a spectral characteristic, the spectral characteristic having a passband, which is defined by a first passband wavelength λ1passband and a second passband wavelength λ2passband, the spectral characteristic having a center wavelength between λ1passband and λ2passband and having an average transmissivity at least equal to 80% over the passband, the spectral characteristic having an average optical density greater than 4 over at least one of first and second blocking bands of wavelengths, wherein the first blocking band of wavelengths extends from a first blocking wavelength, λ1block, having an associated optical density equal to 4 to a second blocking wavelength, λ2block, the second blocking wavelength satisfying: λ2block<0.9*((1−x)/(1+x))*λ1block, wherein the second blocking band of wavelengths extends from a third blocking wavelength, λ3block, having an associated optical density equal to 4 to a fourth blocking wavelength, λ4block, the fourth blocking wavelength satisfying: λ4block>1.1*((1+x)/(1−x))*λ3block, where x=2π⁢arc⁢ ⁢sin⁡(nH-nLnH+nL),wherein a first edge band of wavelengths is associated with a first edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the passband, the first edge band of wavelengths extending from λ1passband to λ1block, such that, at a first transmission wavelength, λ1-50%, within the first edge band of wavelengths, the coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ1passband, λ1block, and λ1-50%, satisfy: (λ1passband−λ1block)/λ1-50%<2%, and wherein a second edge band of wavelengths is associated with a second edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the passband, the second edge band of wavelengths extending from λ2passband to λ3block, such that, at a second transmission wavelength, λ2-50%, within the second edge band of wavelengths, the plurality of layers has a transmissivity of 50%, λ2passband, λ3block, and λ2-50%, satisfy: (λ3block−λ2passband)/λ2-50%<2%, and a minimum spectral distance between λ1block and λ3block is greater than 2% of the center wavelength.

2. An optical device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers includes a plurality of hard-coating layers.

3. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the spectral characteristic has an average optical density greater than 5 over at least one of the first and second blocking bands of wavelengths.

4. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein λ4block is between 700 nm to 900 nm, and the spectral characteristic has an average OD greater than 2 over a band of wavelengths extending from λ4block to wavelength greater than 1000 nm.

5. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the center wavelength is within 380 nm to 700 nm.

6. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the spectral distance between λ1block and λ3block is between 10 nm and 80 nm.

7. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the plurality of hard coating layers includes two or more of: SiO2, Ta2O5, Nb2O5, HfO2, TiO2, and Al2O5.

8. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the substrate includes one of a float glass and an optical glass.

9. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the surface of the substrate is a first surface of the substrate, the substrate further comprising a second surface opposite the first surface, the optical device further comprising: an anti-reflection coating provided on the second surface of the substrate, the anti-reflection coating substantially preventing reflection of light having a wavelength within the passband.

10. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the substrate is a first substrate, the plurality of layers is a first plurality of layers, the spectral characteristic is a first spectral characteristic, the passband is a first passband, and the center wavelength is a first center wavelength, the optical device further comprising: a second substrate; a second plurality of layers provided on the second substrate, the second plurality of layers being configured to reflect first light at a first wavelength, the first wavelength being within said first passband; a third substrate having a surface; a third plurality of layers provided on the surface of the third substrate, the third plurality of layers including alternating third and fourth layers, the third layers having a refractive index, nL2, and the fourth layers having a refractive index, nH2, greater than nL2, wherein the third plurality of layers has a second spectral characteristic, the second spectral characteristic having a second passband, which is defined by passband wavelengths λ1-2passband and λ2-2passband, the second spectral characteristic having an average transmissivity at least equal to 80% over the second passband, and the second passband having a second center wavelength between λ1-2passband and λ2-2passband, the second spectral characteristic having an average optical density greater than 4 over at least one of a lower blocking band of wavelengths and an upper blocking band of wavelengths, the lower blocking band of wavelengths extends from wavelength λ1-2block, which has an associated optical density equal to 4, to wavelength λ2-2block, λ2-2block satisfying: λ2-2block<0.9*((1−x2)/(1+x2))*λ1-2block, wherein the upper blocking band of wavelengths extends from wavelength λ3-2block, which has an associated optical density equal to 4, to wavelength λ4-2block, λ4-2block satisfying: λ4-2block>1.1*((1+x2)/(1−x2))*λ3-2block, where x2=2π⁢arc⁢ ⁢sin⁡(nH⁢ ⁢2-nL⁢ ⁢2nH⁢ ⁢2+nL⁢ ⁢2),wherein a lower edge band of wavelengths is associated with a lower edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the second passband, the lower edge band of wavelengths extending from λ1-2passband to λ1-2block, such that, at wavelength λ1-2-50%, within the lower edge band of wavelengths, the second coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ1-2passband, λ1-2block, and λ1-2-50%, satisfy: (λ1-2passband−λ1-2block)/λ1-2-50%<2%, wherein an upper edge band of wavelengths is associated with an upper edge portion of the second spectral characteristic adjacent the second passband, the upper edge band of wavelengths extending from λ2-2passband to λ3-2block, such that, at wavelength, λ2-2-50%, within the upper edge band of wavelengths, the second coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ2-2passband, λ3-2block, and λ2-2-50%, satisfy: (λ3-2block−λ2-2passband)/λ2-2-50%<2%, and wherein the first wavelength is within the lower blocking band of wavelengths, the third plurality of layers being configured to pass second light having a second wavelength, the second wavelength being within the second blocking band of wavelengths, the second plurality of layers being configured to pass third light, the third light having a third wavelength, which is within the second passband, and a minimum spectral distance between λ1-2block and λ3-2block is greater than 2% of the second center wavelength.

11. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the substrate is a first substrate, the plurality of layers is a first plurality of layers, the spectral characteristic is a first spectral characteristic, the passband is a first passband, and the center wavelength is a first center wavelength, the optical device further comprising: a second substrate; a second plurality of layers provided on the second substrate, the second plurality of layers being configured to transmit first light at a first wavelength, the first wavelength being within said first passband; a third substrate having a surface; a third plurality of layers provided on the surface of the third substrate, the third plurality of layers including alternating third and fourth layers, the third layers having a refractive index, nL2, and the fourth layers having a refractive index, nH2, greater than nL2, wherein the third plurality of layers has a second spectral characteristic, the second spectral characteristic having a second passband, which is defined by passband wavelengths λ1-2passband and λ2-2passband, the second spectral characteristic having an average transmissivity at least equal to 80% over the second passband, and the second passband having a second center wavelength between λ1-2passband and λ2-2passband, the second spectral characteristic having an average optical density greater than 4 over at least one of a lower blocking band of wavelengths and an upper blocking band of wavelengths, the lower blocking band of wavelengths extends from wavelength λ1-2block, which has an associated optical density equal to 4, to wavelength λ2-2block, λ2-2block satisfying: λ2-2block<0.9*((1−x2)/(1+x2))*λ1-2block, wherein the upper blocking band of wavelengths extends from wavelength λ3-2block, which has an associated optical density equal to 4, to wavelength λ4-2block, λ4-2block satisfying: λ4-2block>1.1*((1+x2)/(1−x2))*λ3-2block, where x2=2π⁢arc⁢ ⁢sin⁡(nH⁢ ⁢2-nL⁢ ⁢2nH⁢ ⁢2+nL⁢ ⁢2),wherein a lower edge band of wavelengths is associated with a lower edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the second passband, the lower edge band of wavelengths extending from λ1-2passband to λ1-2block, such that, at wavelength λ1-2-50%, within the lower edge band of wavelengths, the second coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ1-2passband, λ1-2block, and λ1-2-50%, satisfy: (λ1-2passband−λ1-2block)/λ1-2-50%<2%, wherein an upper edge band of wavelengths is associated with an upper edge portion of the second spectral characteristic adjacent the second passband, the upper edge band of wavelengths extending from λ2-2passband to λ3-2block, such that, at wavelength, λ2-2-50%, within the upper edge band of wavelengths, the second coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ2-2passband, λ3-2block, and λ2-2-50%, satisfy: (λ3-2block−λ2-2passband)/λ2-2-50%<2%, and wherein the first wavelength is within the lower blocking band of wavelengths, the third plurality of layers being configured to pass second light having a second wavelength, the second wavelength being within the second blocking band of wavelengths, the second plurality of layers being configured to reflect third light, the third light having a third wavelength, which is within the second passband, and a minimum spectral distance between λ1-2block and λ3-2block is greater than 2% of the second center wavelength.

12. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the surface of the substrate is a first surface of the substrate, the substrate being a first substrate further having a second surface, the plurality of layers is a first plurality of layers, the spectral characteristic is a first spectral characteristic, the passband is a first passband, and the center wavelength is a second center wavelength, the optical device further comprising: a second substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a second plurality of layers provided between the second surface of the first substrate and a first surface of the second substrate, the second plurality of layers being configured to reflect first light at a first wavelength, the first wavelength being within said passband; a third plurality of layers provided on the second surface of the second substrate, the third plurality of layers including alternating third and fourth layers, the third layers having a refractive index, nL2, and the fourth layers having a refractive index, nH2, greater than nL2, wherein the third plurality of layers has a second spectral characteristic, the second spectral characteristic having a second passband, which is defined by passband wavelengths λ1-2passband and λ2-2passband, the second spectral characteristic having an average transmissivity at least equal to 80% over the second passband, the second passband has a second center wavelength between λ1-2passband and λ2-2passband, the second spectral characteristic having an average optical density greater than over at least one of a lower blocking band of wavelengths and an upper blocking band of wavelengths, the lower blocking band of wavelengths extends from wavelength, λ1-2block, which has an associated optical density equal to 4, to wavelength, λ2-2block, λ2-2block satisfying: λ2-2block<0.9*((1−x2)/(1+x2))*λ1-2block, wherein the upper blocking band of wavelengths extends from wavelength λ3-2block, which has an associated optical density equal to 4, to wavelength, λ4-2block, λ4-2block satisfying: λ4-2block>1.1*((1+x2)/(1−x2))*λ3-2block, where x2=2π⁢arc⁢ ⁢sin⁡(nH⁢ ⁢2-nL⁢ ⁢2nH⁢ ⁢2+nL⁢ ⁢2),wherein a lower edge band of wavelengths is associated with a lower edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the second passband, the lower edge band of wavelengths extending from λ1-2passband to λ1-2block, such that, at wavelength λ1-2-50%, within the lower edge band of wavelengths, the second coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ1-2passband, λ1-2block, and λ1-2-50%, satisfy: (λ1-2passband−λ1-2block)/λ1-2-50%<2%, wherein an upper edge band of wavelengths is associated with an upper edge portion of the second spectral characteristic adjacent the second passband, the upper edge band of wavelengths extending from λ2-2passband to λ3-2block, such that, at wavelength, λ2-2-50%, within the upper edge band of wavelengths, the second coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ2-2passband, λ3-2block, and λ2-250%, satisfy: (λ3-2block−λ2-2passband)/λ2-2-50%<2%, and wherein the first wavelength is within the lower blocking band of wavelengths, the third plurality of layers being configured to pass second light having a second wavelength, the second wavelength being within the second blocking band of wavelengths, the second plurality of layers being configured to pass third light, the third light having a third wavelength, which is within the second passband, and a minimum spectral distance between λ1-2block and λ3-2block is greater than 2% of the second center wavelength.

13. An optical device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the second plurality of layers is in contact with the second surface of the first substrate and spaced from the first surface of the second substrate.

14. An optical device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the second plurality of layers is in contact with the first surface of the second substrate and spaced from the second surface of the first substrate.

15. An optical device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the second plurality of layers is in contact with the first surface of the second substrate and with the second surface of the first substrate.

16. An optical device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the optical device includes an adhesive, the second plurality of layers is attached to one of the first surface of the second substrate and the second surface of the first substrate by the adhesive.

17. An optical device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the surface of the substrate is a first surface of the substrate, the substrate being a first substrate further having a second surface, the plurality of layers is a first plurality of layers, the spectral characteristic is a first spectral characteristic, the passband is a first passband, and the center wavelength is a first center wavelength, the optical device further comprising: a second substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a second plurality of layers provided between the second surface of the first substrate and a first surface of the second substrate, the second plurality of layers being configured to pass first light at a first wavelength, the first wavelength being within said passband; a third plurality of layers provided on the second surface of the second substrate, the third plurality of layers including alternating third and fourth layers, the third layers having a refractive index, nL2, and the fourth layers having a refractive index, nH2, greater than nL2, wherein the third plurality of hard coating layers has a second spectral characteristic, the second spectral characteristic having a second passband, which is defined by passband wavelengths λ1-2passband and λ2-2passband, the second spectral characteristic having an average transmissivity at least equal to 80% over the second passband, the second spectral characteristic having an average optical density greater than 4 over at least one of a lower blocking band of wavelengths and an upper blocking band of wavelengths, the lower blocking band of wavelengths extends from wavelength, λ1-2block, which has an optical density equal to 4, to wavelength, λ2-2block, λ2-2block satisfying: λ2-2block<0.9*((1−x2)/(1+x2))*λ1-2block, wherein the upper blocking band of wavelengths extends from wavelength λ3-2block, which has an associated optical density equal to 4, to wavelength, λ4-2block, λ4-2block satisfying: λ4-2block>1.1*((1+x2)/(1−x2))*λ3-2block, where x2=2π⁢arc⁢ ⁢sin⁡(nH⁢ ⁢2-nL⁢ ⁢2nH⁢ ⁢2+nL⁢ ⁢2),wherein a lower edge band of wavelengths is associated with a lower edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the second passband, the lower edge band of wavelengths extending from λ1-2passband to λ1-2block, such that, at wavelength λ1-2-50%, within the lower edge band of wavelengths, the second coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ1-2passband, λ1-2block, and λ1-2-50%, satisfy: (λ1-2passband−λ1-2block)/λ1-2-50%<2%, wherein an upper edge band of wavelengths is associated with an upper edge portion of the second spectral characteristic adjacent the second passband, the upper edge band of wavelengths extending from λ2-2passband to λ3-2block, such that, at wavelength, λ2-2-50%, within the upper edge band of wavelengths, the second coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ2-2passband, λ3-2block, and λ2-250%, satisfy: (λ3-2block−λ2-2passband−)/λ2-2-50%<2%, and wherein the first wavelength is within the lower blocking band of wavelengths, the third plurality of layers being configured to pass second light having a second wavelength, the second wavelength being within the second blocking band of wavelengths, the second plurality of layers being configured to reflect third light, the third light having a third wavelength, which is within the second passband, and a minimum spectral distance between λ1-2block and λ3-2block is greater than 2% of the second center wavelength.

18. An optical device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the second plurality of layers is in contact with the first surface of the first substrate and spaced from the first surface of the second substrate.

19. An optical device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the second plurality of layers is in contact with the first surface of the second substrate and spaced from the first surface of the first substrate.

20. An optical device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the second plurality of layers is in contact with the first surface of the second substrate and with the first surface of the first substrate.

21. An optical device in accordance with claim 17, wherein optical device includes an adhesive, the second plurality of layers is attached to one of the first surface of the second substrate and the first surface of the first substrate by the adhesive.

22. An optical device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the first substrate includes a first right angle prism and the second substrate includes a second right angle prism, the first and second right angle prisms being oriented relative to one another to constitute a substantially cubical structure.

23. A fluorescence spectroscopy system, comprising: a source configured to supply light; an optical filter configured to transmit said light, such that said light is directed toward a sample, the optical filter including: a substrate having a surface; and a plurality of layers provided on the surface of the substrate, the plurality of hard-coating layers including alternating first and second layers, the first layers having a first refractive index, nL, and the second layers having a second refractive index, nH, greater than the first refractive index, wherein the plurality of hard-coating layers has a spectral characteristic, the spectral characteristic having a passband, said light having a wavelength within the passband, the passband being defined by a first passband wavelength λ1passband and a second passband wavelength λ2passband, the spectral characteristic having an average transmissivity at least equal to 80% over the passband and the passband having a center wavelength between λ1passband and λ2passband, the spectral characteristic having an average optical density greater than 4 over at least one of first and second blocking bands of wavelengths, wherein the first blocking band of wavelengths extends from a first blocking wavelength, λ1block, having an associated optical density equal to 4 to a second blocking wavelength, λ2block, the second blocking wavelength satisfying: λ2block<0.9*((1−x)/(1+x))*λ1block, wherein the second blocking band of wavelengths extends from a third blocking wavelength, λ3block, having an associated optical density equal to 4 to a fourth blocking wavelength, λ4block, the fourth blocking wavelength satisfying: λ4block>1.1*((1+x)/(1−x))*λ3block, where x=2π⁢arc⁢ ⁢sin⁡(nH-nLnH+nL),wherein a first edge band of wavelengths is associated with a first edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the passband, the first edge band of wavelengths extending from λ1passband to λ1block, such that, at a first transmission wavelength, λ1-50%, within the first edge band of wavelengths, the coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ1passband, λ1block, and λ1-50%, satisfy: (λ1passband−λ1block)/λ1-50%<2%, and wherein a second edge band of wavelengths is associated with a second edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the passband, the second edge band of wavelengths extending from λ2passband to λ3block, such that, at a second transmission wavelength, λ2-50%, within the second edge band of wavelengths, the plurality of layers has a transmissivity of 50%, λ2passband, λ3block, and λ2-50%, satisfy: (λ3block−λ2passband)/λ2-50%<2%, and a minimum spectral distance between λ1block and λ3block is greater than 2% of the center wavelength; and a detector configured to sense emitted light from the sample in response to said light supplied by the source.

24. A fluorescence spectroscopy system, comprising: a source configured to supply first light, said first light being directed toward a sample such that the sample emits second light; an optical filter configured to transmit said second light, the optical filter including: a substrate having a surface; and a plurality of layers provided on the surface of the substrate, the plurality of hard-coating layers including alternating first and second layers, the first layers having a first refractive index, nL, and the second layers having a second refractive index, nH, greater than the first refractive index, wherein the plurality of hard-coating layers has a spectral characteristic, the spectral characteristic having a passband, the second light having a wavelength within the passband, the passband being defined by a first passband wavelength λ1passband and a second passband wavelength λ2passband, the spectral characteristic having an average transmissivity at least equal to 80% over the passband, and the passband having a center wavelength between λ1passband and λ2passband, the spectral characteristic having an average optical density greater than 4 over at least one of first and second blocking bands of wavelengths, wherein the first blocking band of wavelengths extends from a first blocking wavelength, λ1block, having an associated optical density equal to 4 to a second blocking wavelength, λ2block, the second blocking wavelength satisfying: λ2block<0.9*((1−x)/(1+x))*λ1block, wherein the second blocking band of wavelengths extends from a third blocking wavelength, λ3block, having an associated optical density equal to 4 to a fourth blocking wavelength, λ4block, the fourth blocking wavelength satisfying: λ4block>1.1*((1+x)/(1−x))*λ3block, where x=2π⁢arc⁢ ⁢sin⁡(nH-nLnH+nL),wherein a first edge band of wavelengths is associated with a first edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the passband, the first edge band of wavelengths extending from λ1passband to λ1block, such that, at a first transmission wavelength, λ1-50%, within the first edge band of wavelengths, the coating has a transmissivity of 50%, λ1passband, λ1block, and λ1-50%, satisfy: (λ1passband−λ1block)/λ1-50%<2%, and wherein a second edge band of wavelengths is associated with a second edge portion of the spectral characteristic adjacent the passband, the second edge band of wavelengths extending from λ2passband to λ3block, such that, at a second transmission wavelength, λ2-50%, within the second edge band of wavelengths, the plurality of layers has a transmissivity of 50%, λ2passband, λ3block, and λ2-50%, satisfy: (λ3block−λ2passband)/λ2-50%<2%, and a minimum spectral distance between λ1block and λ3block is greater than 2% of the center wavelength; and a detector configured to sense the second light.