Diamond films are contemplated for use in optical systems due to their inert nature and hence their ability to protect the vital optical systems from the harsh environments. Polycrystalline diamond films produce scattering centers due to the different impurities, grain sizes and orientations that are produced by the different deposition techniques. A novel polishing method is proposed for providing smooth surfaces. This techniques has the capability to be adapted for contoured surfaces and can also be used in combination with intelligent manufacturing systems. Phase I effort will establish the feasibility; however the follow on effort will coat large complex geometries that can be characterized and field tested in several optical applications.
