Deformable Mirrors
Technology Overview
Deformable Mirrors (DM) are precision adaptive optics components whose mirrored surface can be shaped to correct optical aberrations and wavefronts. Desired mirror shapes are introduced by a controller and the mirror surface is deformed using actuators. Shapes can be pre-established in a system (open loop control) or can be derived from feedback from a Wavefront Sensor (WFS), known as closed loop control. In closed loop control, the WFS measures the shape of the mirror surface in real-time. The DM uses this information to determine the shape required to compensate for disturbances and correct the system. DMs are made of a mirrored or coated substrate, actuators, and a controller. AOS DMs feature a continuous surface, as opposed to a segmented surface.
Our DMs are used in a variety of applications, including:
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Defense Systems:
DMs can be used in high-powered directed energy systems. They are commonly used at the laser input side of a beam control system for beam cleanup, and for atmospheric correction of the beam to the target.
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Imaging Systems:
DMs can be used to enhance live or long-distance imaging, particularly through dynamic atmospheric and thermally induced distortions. DMs can also be employed to remove aberrations caused to the system by the imaging platform itself, such as in aerospace applications.
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Space & Astronomy:
DMs are used in telescopes to compensate for atmospheric disturbances and shape errors in optical elements. DMs can improve the resolution of telescopes by correcting wavefront errors before they reach the imaging sensor.
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Laser communications:
DMs are used to actively correct for distortions in the laser beam caused by atmospheric turbulence, continually improving signal quality.
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Pulse shaping & Laser Machining:
DMs are employed in materials processing and precision machining. They can be used to customize laser beam shapes and control beam size, as well as increasing overall accuracy.
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Biomedical:
DMs can be utilized in medical scanning applications such as in ophthalmology for retinal imaging or phoropter technology.
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Laboratory & Educational Institutions:
DMs can be used in laser research programs
General Product Overview
The AOS deformable mirror (DM) is an integral part of an adaptive optics (AO) system used to compensate for dynamic atmospheric distortions, thermally induced distortions, and manufacturing errors in optics that can dramatically degrade system performance.
AOS has produced groundbreaking deformable mirrors since 2005 that revolutionized the industry with enhanced laser power handling and dramatically lowered cost. AOS has extensive experience in Directed Energy and HEL industry and maintains an established production process to meet industry demand.
AOS DMs are scalable with 1”- 9” diameters mirrors (25mm-228mm) and in a variety of actuator patterns, pitches, and arrays (6 – 1004 channels). DM mirror coatings are customizable and capable of receiving any high reflectivity coating. DMs are available with or without exterior packaging, and in either anodized or uncoated finishes, to accommodate physical space or vacuum requirements. Designs can also be ruggedized for harsh environments and EMI protection. Please see datasheets for further product specifications.
AOS maintains two available DM lines: The Plate-Type DM (PDM) product line and the Membrane DM. Development of both products incorporated interested party inputs for cost, performance, coating, ruggedization, size, weight, power, and heat considerations. The membrane line fulfills customer requirements for lower cost and laboratory environments and is available as a fully customized component as part of the Research & Development Division. The piezoelectric actuated (PZT) PDM product line was uniquely designed for applications inherent in current defense and aerospace applications and is a full AOS product offering.
Plate-Type DM (PDM) Product Features
- High Optical Quality Continuous Surface
- Capable of Receiving Any High Reflectivity Coating
- >3 kHz First Resonance Typical
- Diameters: 1” – 9” (25mm-228mm)
- Compatible with AOS AO Controllers
- Custom Actuator Patterns
- Typically, 4 microns of throw
General Product Overview
The AOS deformable mirror (DM) is an integral part of an adaptive optics (AO) system used to compensate for dynamic atmospheric distortions, thermally induced distortions, and manufacturing errors in optics that can dramatically degrade system performance.
AOS has produced groundbreaking deformable mirrors since 2005 that revolutionized the industry with enhanced laser power handling and dramatically lowered cost. AOS has extensive experience in Directed Energy and HEL industry and maintains an established production process to meet industry demand.
AOS DMs are scalable with 1”- 9” diameters mirrors (25mm-228mm) and in a variety of actuator patterns, pitches, and arrays (6 – 1004 channels). DM mirror coatings are customizable and capable of receiving any high reflectivity coating. DMs are available with or without exterior packaging, and in either anodized or uncoated finishes, to accommodate physical space or vacuum requirements. Designs can also be ruggedized for harsh environments and EMI protection. Please see datasheets for further product specifications.
AOS maintains two available DM lines: The Plate-Type DM (PDM) product line and the Membrane DM. Development of both products incorporated interested party inputs for cost, performance, coating, ruggedization, size, weight, power, and heat considerations. The membrane line fulfills customer requirements for lower cost and laboratory environments and is available as a fully customized component as part of the Research & Development Division. The piezoelectric actuated (PZT) PDM product line was uniquely designed for applications inherent in current defense and aerospace applications and is a full AOS product offering.