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Preparation of optical surfaces on beryllium.
Applied Optics
|January 16, 2010
Summary
For precision optical surfaces, bare beryllium mirrors are superior to Kanigen-coated beryllium mirrors. This finding is crucial for ensuring dimensional stability in critical optical systems.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optical Engineering
- Surface Metrology
Background:
- Beryllium's high strength-to-weight ratio and thermal diffusivity make it ideal for critical optical applications.
- Dimensional stability of mirror blanks is essential for long-term performance of optical systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the dimensional stability of bare and Kanigen-coated beryllium mirrors.
- To determine the preferred material for precision optical surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Cataloging material properties of beryllium mirrors.
- Comparative analysis of Kanigen-coated versus bare beryllium.
Main Results:
- Bare beryllium exhibits superior dimensional stability compared to Kanigen-coated beryllium.
- Bare beryllium is recommended for precision optical surfaces.
Conclusions:
- Bare beryllium is the preferred choice over Kanigen-coated beryllium for applications demanding high dimensional stability in optical systems.
