Optics for Space Applications
What can OPTOMAN
do for the space applications?
Enhanced lifetime, environmentally stable laser optics featuring excellent spectral performance
Space communication
Laser is a crucial technology when it comes to data transmission in space, due to secure, low latency and super-fast communication. Our laser optics for space feature high lifetime while maintaining low deradation.
Remote sensing and Lidar
For this application laser optics must be very precise to give the most accurate distance or other information. Moreover, the repeatability and lifetime of laser optics are also crucial.
Defense
DEL weapons, missile detectors and other defense systems can be deployed in space. This comes to a crucial point of managing high peak power of the laser, enhanced lifetime and environmental stability.
FAQ
What makes OPTOMAN different from other optics manufacturers?
OPTOMAN’s mission is to be Your Sidekick for Laser Optics Development. We 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. We always aim to increase the longevity and reliability of our partners’ laser systems, eventually resulting in a lower total cost of ownership.
How can we be sure that OPTOMAN optics will fit our Business needs?
OPTOMAN digs deep into each application, providing highly customised and application-optimised solutions that will fit your business needs.
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 making a well-balanced industrial high runner. We keep an open discussion about main price drivers and help customers optimise BOM costs while maintaining the highest quality level.
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 further advancements in laser technology.
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 space 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, and how scalable is the production?
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. Different-size IBS coating chambers are very handy in this case because small-scale production can be easily transferred to our giant IBS machine – Albert (the atom smasher), where we can coat large optics or 400-500 units of 1“ laser optics in a single coating run, ensuring high uniformity, meaning that all mirrors will work the same making your laser systems highly repeatable and reliable too.
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.
We are in the R&D phase; could OPTOMAN help at this stage?
We consider ourselves trailblazers of IBS-based optics manufacturing. We are eager to innovate in the field, so your RnD challenges are our best tasks. The passion for creating something new and our team’s satisfaction from seeing the solutions implemented are huge rewards. We have versatile manufacturing equipment suitable for prototyping and, later on, scalable mass production of thousands of units per day.
Capabilities
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 several space applications. OPTOMAN has one of the largest IBS chambers in the world and is capable of manufacturing laser optics up to ⌀ 420 mm.
Repeatability
OPTOMAN understands the importance of repeatability, has many metrology processes, and ensures that each optic works as promised. Read more in tech note about repeatability.
Lifetime
OPTOMAN is invested in prolonging the lifetime of optics, no color-change effect and enhanced lifetime (over 10000h at some wavelengths) that at certain wavelengths can be backed up with lifetime measurements.
Spectral performance
OPTOMAN’s coatings can offer transmittance exceeding 99.98% for AR/AR coated components and reflectance of R>99.995% for high reflective coatings.
Application optimised products
Extreme conditions require laser systems in space and their components, especially laser optics, to feature high environmental stability and spectral performance OPTOMAN has developed application-optimised laser optics with increased longevity and LIDT, while maintaining low degradation.
- Environmental stability, suitable for space applications
- High precision and repeatability
- Low absorption
Design example
1550nm is the most popular wavelength for laser communications because of low attenuation in compatibility with Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs), low chromatic dispersion and good atmospheric transmission for free-space communication.
OPTOMAN IBS coated 1550nm laser mirrors have excellent spectral performance, low absorption and enhanced lifetime.
Coatings (IBS):
HRs>99.95% & HRp>99.9% @ 1550 nm, AOI=45⁰
Retro attenuators reflect a light beam back to the source while reducing its intensity. In space applications they are typically used in laser communication systems, where they ensure that the laser signal is strong enough to be detected but not so powerful that it damages or saturates the sensors. Also retro attenuators are used in Satellite Ranging and Laser Tracking systems where it helps control the intensity of the returning signal, making sure it can be received and analysed without exceeding the limits of ground-based detectors.
Precise control of the transmittance makes manufacturing of attenuators challenging, and IBS technology here comes very handy because of its stability and repeatability.
Design example
This deposition of this retro attenuator is challenging and requires best OPTOMAN capabilities and IBS expertise.
1530 – 1580 nm corresponds to C-band, widely used in fiber-optic communication systems.
900 – 1400 nm band is responsible for managing optical signals in LiDAR, rangafinders and other laser-based sensors.
1% transmission with a tolerance of ±0.25% is demanding and even minor deviations in layer thickness, refractive index, or uniformity across the coating can lead to significant performance variations.
Coatings (IBS):
T=1%+/-0.25% @ 1530 – 1580 nm + T_average<10% @ 900 – 1400nm, AOI=10⁰
Dichroic mirrors for space applications need to ensure that optical components can provide reliable, high-transmission performance across specific infrared wavelengths, such as 1550 nm, which is critical for laser communication, while also offering high reflection in other wavelength ranges for specific laser guidance needs. OPTOMAN optics are designed to resist rapid degradation because of harsh space environment and offer exceptional optical precision, which is critical for maintaining the integrity of laser pulses.
Design example
Here is a typical schematic of a laser system used in space communication, demonstrating the importance of dichroic mirrors.
OPTOMAN’s dichroic mirrors feature all of the requirements – environmental stability, low degradation, high LIDT – to not only survive in space, but thrive.
Certification
Here's what
our clients say
OPTOMAN helps us to scale our business. From standard mirrors to custom coatings - OPTOMAN delivers the highest quality with fast response times.
CEO at Class 5
OPTOMAN helped improving our 3 µm laser device efficiency due to the exceptional transmission performance of their coatings at that challenging wavelength.
R&D Team Lead Laser - Optics - Lab
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
Laser engineers from space companies appreciate OPTOMAN's transparency and reliability the most.
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