Open AccessIntegrated manufacture of a freeform off-axis multi-reflective imaging system without optical alignment
Author(s) -
Zexiao Li,
Xianlei Liu,
Fengzhou Fang,
Xiaodong Zhang,
Zhaofa Zeng,
Linlin Zhu,
Ning Yan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.26.007625
Subject(s) - optics , computer science , compensation (psychology) , wavefront , adaptive optics , machining , optical axis , optical imaging , mechanical engineering , physics , engineering , lens (geology) , psychology , psychoanalysis
Multi-reflective imaging systems find wide applications in optical imaging and space detection. However, it is faced with difficulties in adjusting the freeform mirrors with high accuracy to guarantee the optical function. Motivated by this, an alignment-free manufacture approach is proposed to machine the optical system. The direct optical performance-guided manufacture route is established without measuring the form error of freeform optics. An analytical model is established to investigate the effects of machine errors to serve the error identification and compensation in machining. Based on the integrated manufactured system, an ingenious self-designed testing configuration is constructed to evaluate the optical performance by directly measuring the wavefront aberration. Experiments are carried out to manufacture a three-mirror anastigmat, surface topographical details and optical performance shows agreement to the designed expectation. The final system works as an off-axis infrared imaging system. Results validate the feasibility of the proposed method to achieve excellent optical application.