Optical Surfaces Ltd is a specialist producer of large diameter mirrors, optical flats, windows, lenses, beam expanders and collimators supplied to leading research establishments worldwide.
Large diameter, ultra-high precision mounted mirror. Image Credit: Optical Surfaces Ltd.
Typically, such large diameter elements need to be made as custom optics, because they are required either as single prototypes, or in small numbers, and are often subject to demanding manufacturing tolerances.
Benefiting from a unique thermally stable manufacturing environment and working with high-stability materials such as Zerodur and Fused Silica, Optical Surfaces can routinely achieve a surface accuracy of better than lambda/10 p.v. and surface roughness of less than 1 nm rms on reference flats and optical windows up to 600 mm (24-inches) in diameter.
Aspherical mirrors are the one of most common type of element used in beam expanders, collimators, interferometers, astronomical instruments and as key focusing elements on ultra-high power laser beamlines. Using proprietary production techniques – Optical Surfaces has established itself as a world-leading producer of large diameter parabolic mirrors with a surface accuracy of better than lambda/20 P-V and smoothness of 20/10 scratch/dig. Combining this excellent surface quality with a range of high reflectivity coatings enables researchers to achieve the leading-edge optical performance and efficiency required by even the most demanding experiments.
The OS 300-600 series of large-diameter mirror mounts from Optical Surfaces Ltd. are designed to provide a secure platform for larger, high-precision flat, spherical and off-axis mirrors in stability-critical applications. Robustly designed in black anodized aluminium, the mounts are available in four standard sizes to accommodate high-precision mirrors from 305 to 550 mm in diameter. Angular alignment of mounted mirrors is achieved about the vertical and horizontal axes using dual-action adjusters with fine-screw and ultra-fine differential micrometre action. These mounts make it possible to rapidly align a large diameter mirror within a few arc seconds.
Optical Surfaces Ltd has been producing large diameter optical components and systems for more than 50 years. The company’s ISO 9001:2015 approved manufacturing workshops and test facilities are deep underground in a series of tunnels excavated in solid chalk where temperature remains constant, and vibration is practically non-existent. With such stable conditions testing, particularly with long path lengths, becomes quantifiable and reliable.