Category : Optics (components, coatings, instruments and systems) > Custom optics, OEM

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Optical Surfaces Ltd. (www.optisurf.com) have supplied two ultra-high precision mirrors to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) (Aldermaston, UK) to help upgrade the performance of the HELEN Terrawatt laser facility.

In the post nuclear test ban treaty era AWE's HELEN laser has enabled simulation of the key physics processes occurring within a thermonuclear weapon. AWE's scientists have carried out pioneering warhead physics work taking advantage of the laser's short pulse times and precise targeting. As a result AWE has been able to study the individual phenomena occurring within a warhead in order to validate the computer generated predictions. By converting one of the HELEN beams to sub-picosecond pulse operation using the chirped pulse amplification technique, AWE recently achieved 100 Terrawatt output. To make best use of this enhanced power the highest quality achievable off-axis parabolic focusing mirror was required to maximise beam intensity whilst keeping the target outside the beam aperture.

Optical Surfaces Ltd. was selected as the supplier for these mirrors due to its technical excellence, reasonable pricing and a proven record in manufacturing and testing large high precision optics for leading plasma physics groups around the world.

To provide the precise beam focusing required by the HELEN laser placed great demands on the quality of the optical components. These were two 270 mm diameter off-axis paraboloids of 600 mm focal length having a steep off-axis angle to the edge of 27 degrees, resulting in an asphericity of 500 microns. Based upon proprietary, flexible lapping technology and their uniquely stabilised environment, Optical Surfaces were able to produce superbly smooth optics of lambda / 10 surface accuracy with slope errors of less than lambda / 10 per centimetre. A particular problem with generating this type of aspheric is not only the high slope departures from spherical, but also the extreme variation of those departures from one side of the mirror to the other.

Optical Surfaces Ltd's facilities are approved to ISO9001:2000 and optics / optical systems are supplied with test interferograms and analysis showing wavefront accuracy & measured data.

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