NU 2015-054
Inventors
Youwei Yao
Melville Ulmer*
Jian Cao*
Short Description
Novel coating method for improving surface quality of a thin film mirror
Abstract
Northwestern scientists have developed a new method for producing lightweight optics with improved image quality by using a stress-manipulated coating. Telescopes sent into space require extremely thin and smooth mirrors in order to collect X-rays or infrared light from their surroundings. The manufacturing processes currently employed to produce these high-quality mirrors are both time-consuming and expensive, in addition to being difficult to reproduce. Prof. Ulmer and colleagues developed a new approach that allows them to manufacture inexpensive optical mirrors that correct slope errors of 10-20 arc-seconds. Further, the final figure does not require active control to maintain the shape. Importantly, this innovative production method is reproducible and highly precise, having a DOC of only 0.6% in laboratory tests. This novel coating method has the potential to improve resolution of optics used for space exploration and may contribute to the field of astronomy.
Applications
Advantages
IP Status
Provisional patent application has been filed.
Tags MATERIALS: thin film, MATERIALS: manufacturing, PHOTONICS: nonlinear optics