Photonic components for space application

Photonics elements in the form of sub-wavelength thin films are widely employed in the space technology for multiple purposes, including high- and anti-reflection coatings, bandpass filters and protection layers. The exposure of such optical coatings to the harsh conditions of the space environment poses a risk to their optical stability, though the mechanisms and damaging dynamics that take place in orbit are not sufficiently understood. In this work an innovative systematic campaign is presented to study the optical performance degradation due to exposure to protons, He ions and electrons on different types of coatings. In addiction, recent studies have also selected lightsails realized via thin films stacking as candidate technology to send a probe into the deep space. The thrust is provided via the radiation pressure of a high power large-aperture phased laser array, and enables the possibility of exploring the Alpha Centauri system in a time period compatible with the human life. In this regards, this thesis provides optimized multi-layer designs that allow ultralight spacecrafts to be accelerated by laser radiation pressure up to 20% of the speed of light.