so now that we have a few experts on thread what about dichroic coatings ? and what about ion exchange coatings ?

wiki on dichro process:
"Multiple ultra-thin layers of different metals (gold, silver), metal oxides (titanium, chromium, aluminium, zirconium, magnesium) and silica are vaporised by an electron beam in a vacuum chamber. The vapour then condenses on the surface of the glass in the form of a crystal structure."

where can i score an electron beam ?

i have been in some mirror and optics labs at the recently built optics center at the univ. of az and got a tour of some of the lasers labs, and labs where they do vacuum coatings on glass to create different refractories, but i know nothing of the process.

i know this is off topic and if its gets little response then oh well. i am also really interested in ionization processes. i have heard that synthetic sapphire can be coated onto glass through an ionization process, and as well i believe the ion-x tubing is a similar deal using ionization and copper salts.