Versatile Mounting System For Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors

Optical Surfaces Ltd has launched a new low profile mounting system that provides a highly stable platform for smaller diameter (up to 75mm) parallel or wedge backed off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirrors.

Designed to facilitate rapid and simple mounting onto an optical table or other support, Optical Surfaces is now able to supply smaller diameter OAP mirrors pre-aligned in the new high quality stress-free mount.

Benefiting from a uniquely stable manufacturing environment, and a highly skilled team of engineers and craftsmen, Optical Surfaces has established itself as a world leader for the production of high precision off-axis parabolic mirrors. The company is able to routinely produce OAP mirrors with surface accuracy to lambda/20 (peak-to-valley) depending upon off-axis angles. Using proprietary polishing techniques Optical Surfaces can, depending on the surface accuracy required, achieve the natural limit to the off-axis angle of around 25-30 degrees and surface micro-roughness of less than 1 nm. A range of coatings is available for standard and custom components from metallic with or without protective overcoat to multilayer dielectrics and ultra-hard coatings.

Unlike standard parabolic mirrors, off-axis parabolic mirrors direct and focus incident collimated light at a specific angle, allowing unrestricted access to the focal point as well as reducing the size and minimising the weight of an optical design.