Earth observation satellites employ hyperbolic mirrors in their telescope design to allow high optical performance over a large field-of-view in a compact footprint. A hyperbolic secondary mirror is used in Cassegrain telescopes to effectively balance aberrations caused by the shorter focal length of a typically parabolic primary mirror.
In addition, in some more extreme low f/ratio applications served by Ritchey-Chretien telescopes, both the primary and secondary mirrors may be hyperbolic.
Drawing upon a uniquely stable production environment - Optical Surfaces skilled optical engineers are able to produce secondary convex hyperbolic mirrors up to 150mm diameter with typical wavefront error of only lambda/20 P-V, surface finish of 10/5 and microroughness of less than 1.2nm RMS.
Such customer specified ultra-smooth hyperbolic mirrors can be supplied with a coating exactly optimised for your application. In space borne telescope platforms, where weight is an issue, Optical Surfaces can also produce hyperbolic mirrors with light-weighting options.
Optical Surfaces Ltd has been producing optical components and systems for astronomical and space research for more than 50 years. The company's ISO 9001-2015 approved manufacturing workshops and test facilities are deep underground in a series of tunnels excavated in solid chalk where temperature remains constant and vibration is practically non-existent. With such stable conditions testing, particularly with long path lengths, becomes quantifiable and reliable.
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