Superpolished Optics

Minimize Scatter with Ultra-Low Surface Roughness

• Superpolished optics with sub-angstrom surface roughness are ideal for precise laser optics applications
• Complement ion beam sputtered (IBS) coatings for creating extremely low loss optics
• Polishing parameters including temperature, pH level, and slurry input must be highly controlled
• Metrology is critical as sub-angstrom measurements approach equipment’s noise floor

The continuous and unyielding progress towards higher throughput and lower loss in laser systems requires optical components that minimize scatter, especially when using high-power lasers or short wavelengths. Optics that achieve this through ultra-low surface roughness are often referred to as “superpolished.” There is no industry standard roughness at which an optic is considered superpolished, although Edmund Optics® has developed a process to polish optical surfaces down to an RMS surface roughness less than one angstrom (10^-10 m) for parts-per-million-level scattering. Superpolished optics are ideal for sensitive laser applications such as cavity ring-down systems for gas analysis, laser gyroscopes, and other systems requiring low-defect optics. These highly-controlled surfaces complement low-loss coating technology such as ion beam sputtering (IBS).