Surface Texture And Imaging Quality Of Mirrors

Lionel R. Baker

doi:10.1117/12.942157

9 August 1988 Surface Texture And Imaging Quality Of Mirrors

Lionel R. Baker

Proceedings Volume 0830, Grazing Incidence Optics for Astronomical and Laboratory Applications; (1988) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.942157
Event: 31st Annual Technical Symposium on Optical and Optoelectronic Applied Sciences and Engineering, 1987, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Although optical systems designed to image extended fields, such as photographic and copying lenses, can tolerate clearly visible degrees of surface contamination and damage, such as dust and scratches, mirrors and lenses required to produce diffraction limited images of point sources require near perfect surfaces. Every particle of contamination and surface defect will create its own diffraction pattern in the image plane, thus transferring information about the surface itself rather than the object under study. This paper reviews techniques currently used for measurement of surface texture and image quality and describes a new approach based on comparing a test mirror with a reference component having known characteristics. The method of operation and the principal design features of this comparator approach are described. If this method is accepted, it may in future be possible to define a code of practice and standards relating to the roughness, flaws and image forming quality of mirrors.

Citation Download Citation

Lionel R. Baker "Surface Texture And Imaging Quality Of Mirrors", Proc. SPIE 0830, Grazing Incidence Optics for Astronomical and Laboratory Applications, (9 August 1988); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.942157

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