1.

INTRODUCTION

Materion has a long and proved track record of providing large optical components for astronomical purposes. During that time ground-based telescopes have continued to get larger and larger. In the past a 1M telescope was considered large, now that has expanded to > 20 meters. In 2001 Materion Balzers Optics began offering optics up to 600mm in diameter. As the need for larger optics continued to increase (LSST, VLT, TMT) Materion made an internal decision in 2012 to build a large deposition system fully dedicated to offering meter class optics.

Fig 1.

Summary of link between capability & design complexity

In this poster, we present some results as well as some of the current capabilities of our Large Area Optics (LAO) laboratory

2.

LAO LABORTORY

MBO’s LAO laboratory was designed and built in 2012 with the sole purpose of providing meter class optical components. The lab was fabricated and currently maintained to ISO 6/7 standards. Custom designed test, loading, substrate cleaning and storage equipment was designed for dedicated use in our LAO laboratory. A large custom designed deposition system was contracted out, built to MBO design specifications to ensure strict uniformity control for multiple material sets. A precision monitoring system to allow for tight wavelength control and positioning. Flexibility of design for further improvements and configurations.

Fig 2.

Initial placement of deposition system in the LAO laboratory

Fig 3.

Installation of deposition system

Fig 4.

Examples of custom designed loading equipment

Fig 5.

MBO designed automated test setup

3.

PERFORMANCE RESULTS

Materion Balzers Optics LAO deposition was designed and manufactured to provide the extremely tight uniformity requirements necessary for high end large form optical components. Typical uniformity is stated in Fig 6. Tighter uniformity can be achieved for specialty items.

Fig 6.

Demonstrated measurements results shown in Fig 7 and fig 8.

Fig 7.

Fig 8.

4.

CONCLUSION

In this poster, Materion Balzers Optics presents our Large Area Optics laboratory set up, custom designed equipment and current capabilities with regards to manufacturing meter class optical components.