Optics for Scientific Applications
What can OPTOMAN
do for scientific applications?
Highly customised laser optics for the most demanding applications
Extremely powerful laser systems
The research around ultra-high-intensity laser pulses as well as inertial confinement fusion using terawatt (TW) and petawatt (PW) laser systems are one of the dominant topics among researchers. Such high-power lasers must contain laser optics that withstand huge amounts of energy while maintaining the necessary spectral performance.
Sub fs laser applications
Ultrafast laser pulse durations are getting shorter, reaching the sub-fs range, allowing scientists to probe and control processes occurring on timescales shorter than the period of a single oscillation of light. Achieving sub-fs pulses requires highly stable, high LIDT optics with precisely controlled dispersion.
Extreme ultrafast wavelengths
DUV ultrafast laser applications as well as MID-IR lasers are getting a lot of attention among researchers looking for killer applications for these wavelength ranges of high potential. OPTOMAN IBS coatings can enhance the research when it comes to spectral performance, LIDT and lifetime of optics.
FAQ
What makes OPTOMAN different from other optics manufacturers?
OPTOMAN’s mission is to be Your Sidekick for Laser Optics Development. Our core value is the desire to make application-optimised and highly customised solutions for you collaboratively and do that with ultrafast turnaround, being quick to react, consult and serve your optics needs.
OPTOMAN is completely concentrated on Ion-Beam Sputtering Technology (IBS) using solely in-house manufacturing capabilities run by highly skilled professionals.
How can we be sure that OPTOMAN optics will fit our needs?
OPTOMAN digs deep into each application, providing highly customised and application-optimised solutions that will fit your needs. Laser optics suitable for nanosecond, ultrafast and CW lasers are completely different as there is no one fits all solution when it comes to different laser parameters.
Together, we will be able to set the priorities that are most important for your application and needs, whether it is reaching fundamental limitations, proving the concept, or having a well-balanced solution.
Why Ion-Beam Sputtering Technology (IBS)?
IBS is an inherently stable sputtering process that enables OPTOMAN to make highly repeatable laser optics that feature bulk-like coating density, negligible scattering, high resistance to laser irradiation and advanced spectral performance.
OPTOMAN chose to focus on this technology, seeing it as the most suitable tool to enable higher laser energy levels and further advancements in laser technology. Operating one single coating technology reduces operational costs, which helps OPTOMAN destroy the myth that IBS coatings must be very expensive.
We already use IBS-coated optics, so why should we consider OPTOMAN?
Laser optics manufacturing is a more complicated process than choosing the right substrates and coating materials and uploading the coating design to the IBS machine. The right intermedium between the coating design and coating chamber is essential, and that intermedium is human with the know-how.
OPTOMAN is driven by highly skilled professionals who aim to maximise the value of IBS-coated optics for you with an ultrafast turnaround. OPTOMAN scientific market development manager, together with highly skilled coating engineers, is ready to consult you and provide highly customised and application-optimised solutions.
Is it possible to test the optics?
Yes. Based on the customer’s presented business case, OPTOMAN, with its R&D-driven attitude and collaborative approach, can design, develop, and manufacture products for testing purposes and present a plan for serial production.
Moreover, our in-stock optics marketplace, OPTOSHOP, features over 400 different laser optics made with love by OPTOMAN. These optics can be provided for testing directly from stock and delivered in 1-3 business days. After successful tests, OPTOMAN can present the most optimal production plan matching your business needs.
Capabilities
Spectral performance
OPTOMAN’s optics can offer transmittance exceeding 99.98% for AR/AR coated components and reflectance of R>99.995% for high–reflective optics, making your laser systems almost lossless.
Wavelength range
OPTOMAN is capable of manufacturing all types of laser optics with wavelengths ranging from 193 to 5000 nm. Moreover, OPTOMAN has put in a lot of effort in the Mid-IR spectral range, with knowledge in handling different substrates. Learn more about Mid-IR optics in our tech note.
Large optics
The capability of manufacturing large optics is paramount for high–intensity lasers. OPTOMAN has one of the largest IBS chambers in the world and is capable of manufacturing laser optics up to ⌀420 mm.
LIDT
OPTOMAN’s coatings can withstand extremely powerful laser beams, with a threshold exceeding >426 kW/cm @ 1070nm, CW and 1 J/cm² @ 1030 nm, 500 fs, for HR coatings. This makes them suitable for high-power laser systems.
Application optimised products
Nonlinear compression of laser pulses with tens of millijoule energy in a multipass cell is a promising approach to realize a new generation of high average power femtosecond sources. The whole approach relies on efficient HR mirrors, which enable to have a large number of reflections with low losses.
- High reflection (>99.98%) at a broadband configuration
- Low and spectrally uniform Group Delay Dispersion
- High LIDT (>0.69 J/cm² @ 1030 nm, 180 fs)
Design example
HR>99.99% @ 970-1090 nm, AOI=0° (|GDDr| < 50 fs2 @ 980-1080 nm)
Lifetime measurements were performed to prove that OPTOMAN MPC mirrors don’t suffer from the degradation effect.
Working at pulse durations less than 10ps, colour change effect become LIDT-limiting factor for ultrafast applications. OPTOMAN has developed a product specifically optimised for ultrafast laser applications – SuperHero Power Mirrors featuring no color-change damage.
- Very High LIDT (> 1 J/cm², 1030 nm, 500 fs, s-pol)
- No color-change effect and longer lifetime
- Low and spectrally uniform Group Delay Dispersion
Design example
Coatings (IBS)
S1 (arrow marks):
HRs>99.95% & HRp>99.9%@1010 – 1050 nm, AOI=45°, |GDD Rs|<10 fs², |GDD Rp|<20 fs²
S2: Stress Compensating Coating
LIDT (measured):
> 0.7 J/cm², 1030 nm, 500 fs, 10 kHz, p-pol
> 1 J/cm², 1030 nm, 500 fs, 10 kHz, s-pol
> 3 J/cm², 1030 nm, 10 ps, 10 kHz, p-pol
> 5 J/cm², 1030 nm, 10 ps, 10 kHz, s-pol
LIDT measurement
For laser that require very high spectral efficiency, extreme low-loss laser mirrors are a solution. Their superpower of high reflectance comes from the OPTOMAN’s continuous effort to add more and more nines after the point when talking about reflectance values.
- Low absorption and scattering (down to <2 ppm)
- For High Reflectivity mirrors, R>99.995% values.
- Low roughness and scattering
Design example
Coatings (IBS):
S1(arrow mark):
HR>99.995% @ 1064 nm, AOI=0⁰
Absorption: <1.5 ppm
Ti:Sapphire laser systems still dominate the market for the most powerful laser systems, exploiting the OPCPA/CPA approaches to stretch, amplify, and compress laser pulses, boosting energy and bandwidth. High reflectivity over a broadband spectral region maintaining high LIDT is not easy to manufacture, but OPTOMAN capabilities are suitable for that.
Design example
Coatings (IBS):
HRs>99.9% @ 700-920 nm + HRp>99.9% @ 730-870 nm, AOI=45° (low GDD)
LIDT measurement done at ELI Beamlines:
LASER PARAMETERS
Central Wavelength: 800 nm
Pulse duration (FWHM): (47 ± 5) fs
Repetition rate/frequency: 100 Hz
Angle of incidence: 45o
TEST PROCEDURE
Test type: S-on-1 (10k-on-1), R-on-1
Test environment: vacuum → 1, 5 * 10−5 mbar
RESULTS:
S polarization LIDT: 1.397 J/cm²
P polarization LIDT: 0.71 J/cm²
No color change
Holmium and Thulium YAG lasers find a perfect spot in several high-power laser applications. However, these laser lines match water absorption peaks that cause serious problems with laser-induced damage. The OPTOMAN R&D team delved into coating material research and developed low absorption, high LIDT optics for 2080nm, 2100nm.
- HR>99.9% @ 2100 nm
- LIDT (customer confirmed value): >6 J/cm² @ 2100 nm, 700 μs, 5 Hz, 1 mm
- Low Absorption
Design example
LIDT Optimised Cavity Mirror
Coatings (IBS):
HR>99.9% @ 2100 nm, AOI=0o
Certification
Here's what
our clients say
"We are very satisfied with the quality of OPTOMAN's mirrors. After months and even years of use there is no sign of coating degradation, which is a sign of their good work. In addition to this, we also highly appreciate their eagerness to develop custom coatings for us, the clarity and accuracy of their communications, and the high speed in processing our requests. Definitely, OPTOMAN is one of our main mirror suppliers."
Dr. Juan B. Gonzalez-Diaz, Laser Engineer at DESY
"OPTOMAN’s 0-45° mirrors ULLM19 and dual-wavelength ultrafast mirrors (1030+515 nm) have been extremely useful to our work. Both products deliver exceptional performance and quality!"
Anne-Lise Viotti, Assistant Professor at Lund University
"OPTOMAN's expertise and reactivity have made them our trusted partner for developing dispersion-controlled optics at unique wavelengths."
Clement Ferchaud, Extreme Light Consortium, Imperial College London, UK
"The OPTOMAN optics perform excellently in facilitating high-power, high-energy, and ultrafast Yb lasers, which provides a strong foundation for its application in high flux EUV generation and attosecond spectroscopy."
Xiaochun Gong, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, China
The scientific laser segment is a strategic one for OPTOMAN, enabling us to always stay on the edge of the latest innovations.
Many new scientific segment customers come to OPTOMAN because of peers' recommendations, as 9/10 customers would recommend OPTOMAN to colleagues
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