MIDDLEFIELD, Conn., June 9 -- Zygo Corp. and Vacuum Process Technology Inc. (VPT), of Plymouth, Mass., have agreed to join forces in the development of advanced optical coating systems and processes. The new systems and processes will support Zygo Corp.'s dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) filter technology.Douglas J. Smith, optical manufacturing group leader, will head initial process development for the partnership at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at the University of Rochester. The LLE Optical Manufacturing Facility provides optical coatings to high power lasers for fusion research. Current programs include the 30 kJ Omega Laser and the 1.8 MJ National Ignition Facility (NIF) now under construction in Livermore, Calif. The process technology will then be transferred to a ZYGO Coating Development Laboratory under construction in VPT's expanded facility in Plymouth.