On-axis parabolic mirrors

Jon Lawson

Optical Surfaces Ltd offers a complete manufacturing and test capability to produce On-Axis Parabolic mirrors up to 600mm (24-inches) in diameter. All on-axis parabolic mirrors are manufactured to customer specifications and are supplied with full surface quality test data.

Parabolic mirrors are the most common type of aspherical mirrors used in optical instruments. They are free from spherical aberrations, and thus focus the parallel beam to a point or point source to infinity. On-axis parabolic mirrors offer some advantages compared to off-axis paraboloids in that the achievable f-number is higher therefore allowing more energy to be concentrated. Generally also alignment of on-axis parabolic mirrors is less critical, thus easier.

Using proprietary production techniques - Optical Surfaces highly experienced and skilled production team are able to produce fast focusing on-axis parabolic mirrors with a surface accuracy of better than lambda/10 P-V and smoothness of 20/10 scratch/dig. Combining this excellent surface quality achieved during manufacturing with high reflectivity coatings enables researchers to achieve the high optical performance and efficiency required by even the most demanding experiments.

Optical Surfaces Ltd has been producing optical components and systems for more than 50 years and is now accepted as one of the world's leading manufacturers of high-precision on-axis parabolic mirrors for high power laser facilities, telescopes, LIDAR systems, beam collimators and expanders.

The company's ISO 9001-2008 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. Working with these natural advantages is a highly skilled team of craftsmen with a commitment to excellence in both product quality and customer service. 

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