Recent advances in the application of computer-controlled optical finishing to produce very high-quality transmissive optical elements and windows

Joel Askinazi; Aleksandr Estrin; Alan Green; Aaron N. Turner

doi:10.1117/12.487799

26 September 2003 Recent advances in the application of computer-controlled optical finishing to produce very high-quality transmissive optical elements and windows

Joel Askinazi, Aleksandr Estrin, Alan Green, Aaron N. Turner

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5078, Window and Dome Technologies VIII; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.487799
Event: AeroSense 2003, 2003, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Large aperture (20-inch diameter) sapphire optical windows have been identified as a key element of new and/or upgraded airborne electro-optical systems. These windows typically require a transmitted wave front error of much less than 0.1 waves rms @ 0.63 microns over 7 inch diameter sub-apertures. Large aperture (14-inch diameter by 4-inch thick) sapphire substrates have also been identified as a key optical element of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO). This project is under joint development by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under cooperative agreement with the National Science foundation (NSF). These substrates are required to have a transmitted wave front error of 20 nm (0.032 waves) rms @ 0.63 microns over 6-inch sub-apertures with a desired error of 10 nm (0.016 waves) rms. Owing to the spatial variations in the optical index of refraction potentially anticipated within 20-inch diameter sapphire, thin (0.25 - 0.5-inch) window substrates, as well as within the 14-inch diameter by 4-inch thick substrates for the LIGO application, our experience tells us that the required transmitted wave front errors can not be achieved with standard optical finishing techniques as they can not readily compensate for errors introduced by inherent material characteristics. Computer controlled optical finishing has been identified as a key technology likely required to enable achievement of the required transmitted wave front errors. Goodrich has developed this technology and has previously applied it to finish high quality sapphire optical windows with a range of aperture sizes from 4-inch to 13-inch to achieve transmitted wavefront errors comparable to these new requirements. This paper addresses successful recent developments and accomplishments in the application of this optical finishing technology to sequentially larger aperture and thicker sapphire windows to achieve the challenging transmitted wave front error requirements defined above.

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Joel Askinazi, Aleksandr Estrin, Alan Green, and Aaron N. Turner "Recent advances in the application of computer-controlled optical finishing to produce very high-quality transmissive optical elements and windows", Proc. SPIE 5078, Window and Dome Technologies VIII, (26 September 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.487799

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