Company delivers large, high precision aspheric optics, mirrors, prisms, Schmidt camera and laser launch telescope optics which stretch the limits of conventional optical fabrication techniques
Over the last 40 years Optical Surfaces says it has built a global reputation for the design, manufacture and supply of high precision astronomical optics operating over the entire spectral range from infrared radiation to X-rays.
Drawing upon a team of highly experienced team of optical designers, engineers, and skilled production staff, Optical Surfaces is today a recognised leader in the design and production of high precision large-size optical units and components for land and space based observation systems, it says.
With the main workshops and test facilities deep underground in an area excavated from solid chalk, temperatures remain constant year-round and vibration is practically non-existent.
These are important considerations when making, mounting and testing high precision optics.
Benefiting from this unique stabilised environment Optical Surfaces has developed a reputation for delivering large, high precision aspheric optics, mirrors, prisms, Schmidt camera and laser launch telescope optics which stretch the limits of conventional optical fabrication techniques.
With such stable conditions testing, particularly with long path lengths, testing becomes quantifiable and reliable.
Investment in large aperture Zygo GPI, Twyman Green, Scatterplate, Fizeau and Laser Unequal Path (LUPI) interferometers allows one-to-one testing of even the largest diameter optics.
Topographic and fringe analysis provides precise testing of surface roughness and confirms the wavefront of various surface forms.
A rolling programme for calibration of test optics where possible to national standards and production approval to ISO 9001-2000 ensure that the quality of astronomical optics from Optical Surfaces is second to none.
Recent projects completed by Optical Surfaces has included high precision astronomical optics and optical systems for the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope, the Nasa Swift Explorer, the South African Astrophysical Observatory (SAAO), the TopSat Earth Observation satellite, the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the South African Large Telescope (Salt), the XMM Optical Monitor telescope for the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Hirdls instrument on the ESA Earth Resources 2 satellite.
