High-Precision Large Diameter Optics for Advanced Imaging

Large Optics (Large Diameter Optics) are optical components larger than 100 mm in diameter. They excel in producing high-precision image quality even under difficult situations, redefining photography and videography. Avantier’s large-diameter optics are employed in high-quality imaging applications including telescopes and satellite communications.

Large optical prisms and optical domes meet a wide range of optical requirements, from clarity to high accuracy, adaptability, and particular wavelength transmission.

Custom optics are necessary for some applications, particularly for large optical components such as mirrors, beam splitters, optical flats, windows, lenses, and diffraction gratings. Due to their limited usage and complex needs, these components are frequently manufactured to fit unique specifications.

Commonly used parts, such as household mirrors and illumination lenses, require lower quality standards and simpler, more cost-effective production techniques.

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Video Credit: Avantier Inc.

Video Credit: Avantier Inc.

While Avantier offers a wide variety of products, the following specs provide insight into its manufacturing capabilities in this domain.

Large Optical Lenses: Avantier specializes in the production of large optical lenses, including spherical, aspherical, and other varieties, which improve low-light performance and broaden apertures for remarkable results. Avantier prioritizes high optical quality and reduces aberrations to provide impressive, professional images.

D570mm×T31.75mm Plano Lens. Image Credit: Avantier Inc.

Large Optical Mirrors: Precision large reflector mirrors from Avantier are premium, large optical surfaces that are effectively reflected in a variety of applications, including satellite communication and telescopes. They need to be manufactured with accuracy and are available in a variety of sizes and materials.

D300mm Optical Mirror. Image Credit: Avantier Inc.

Large Optical Prisms: Avantier’s large prisms are produced using glass, metal, crystal, and plastic variants, each designed for specific applications: plastic for cost-effectiveness, glass for clarity, metal for robustness, and crystal for accuracy. A 99.90% reflective coating improves light control on all of them.

90mm×90mm×125mm Optical Prism. Image Credit: Avantier Inc.

Large Optical Domes: The optical domes from Avantier come in a range of sizes, including diameters greater than 100 mm, and can be customized in shape. They can transmit visible and ultraviolet light, among other wavelengths of light, selectively. Materials for camera systems and infrared applications include BK7, fused silica, acrylic, sapphire, and others. Domes from Avantier offer a wide range of viewing directions, minimizing beam deflection, and the ability to use high-quality anti-reflection coatings.

D187mm Germanium Optical Dome. Image Credit: Avantier Inc.

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Large Optics Materials:

Silicon, Germanium, Zine selenide, Zinc sulfide, Chalcogenide, Fused Silica, Sapphire, and other IR materials.

Large Optics Application Examples

Large optical components like mirrors, beam splitters, optical flats, windows, lenses, or diffraction gratings are required for some applications.

• Optical Elements for Telescope Use: Optical components are essential for collecting and directing light from space to scientific instruments in telescopic applications. Primary mirrors, secondary mirrors, tertiary mirrors, Thermal Management Subsystem, Aft Deployable ISIM Radiator, Wavefront sensing and control, and more are essential components of the Optical Telescope Element (OTE), according to NASA.
• Large Diameter Optics for Ultrashort Pulse Compressors: Large optics are needed to safely compress ultrashort pulses with high peak power. Their large beam cross-sections prevent severe peaks from damaging equipment or causing malfunctions. Efforts are focused on simplifying setups to minimize costs and space needs, which is accomplished by using high-quality optical surfaces with durable coatings that resist light damage. Precision polishing and sophisticated coating techniques, such as magnetron or ion beam sputtering, are necessary. Following manufacturing, extensive testing is carried out to determine the laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT)
• Large Optical Elements for Imaging Use: High-resolution optical imaging needs extremely large optical components for two reasons. First, diffraction restricts the angular resolution that can be achieved. A larger input aperture enables the recording of finer details, which is critical for resolving faint objects. Second, a larger aperture collects more light, resulting in shorter exposure times for imaging faint celestial entities. This reduces the influence of noise, which decreases image quality. Furthermore, these systems require exceptionally precise optical surfaces to reduce aberrations and provide optimal light transmission, improving image fidelity.
• Optical Metrology: High-precision optical metrology becomes essential but difficult for large-diameter optical elements with strict specifications. Precise characterization is essential for these optical elements and systems to function at their best.

Avantier takes great pleasure in maintaining the finest standards in manufacturing and optical solutions. Because of Avantier's expertise in the industry, users will obtain products of unparalleled quality and performance. To meet each user’s specific needs, they pledge to provide the greatest optical solutions.

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