Beam Collimators and Expanders for Large Diameter Optical Systems

Optical Surfaces Ltd has developed a novel kinematic mounting arrangement for its pre-aligned beam collimator and beam expander sub-assemblies.

Traditionally large diameter or longer focal length optical systems require an extremely large, heavy and expensive reflective beam collimator system. Benefiting from a lightweight modular design - pre-aligned beam collimator kits from Optical Surfaces Ltd overcome these shortfalls. The introduction of kinetic mounting on these pre-aligned modules makes assembly of complete large diameter beam collimator systems – faster, more precise and highly reproducible. The high stability and performance of these beam collimator kits is achieved by a novel mounting technique, and a zero expansion better than lambda / 10 parabolic mirror, respectively.

Similarly beam expanders often come as complete, pre-aligned mounted optical systems in an enclosure. While this approach provides satisfactory beam expansion solution for optics up to 200 mm diameter, above this an enclosed system solution becomes too large, too heavy, and too expensive. Optical Surfaces pre-aligned beam expander modules offer a lightweight and cost saving solution for beam expansion of optics up to 500 mm diameter. Pre-aligned beam expander modules supplied by Optical Surfaces include mounted primary and secondary mirrors that come pre-set and fully aligned. These pre-aligned modules enable researchers to avoid undertaking a complex 5-degrees of freedom set-up allowing installation in a few hours rather than days or even weeks. The introduction of kinetic mounting on these pre-aligned modules makes assembly of complete large diameter beam expander systems simple, more precise and highly reproducible.

Large diameter beam expander modules. Image Credit: Optical Surfaces Ltd.