Silicon Lightweight Mirrors (SLMS™) Athermal Technology for Cryogenic and High Energy Laser Applications

Schafer Corporation

Chelmsford, MA

Schafer’s Silicon Lightweight Mirrors (SLMS™) technology has significant cost, schedule and performance advantages over Beryllium, ULE, Zerodur and SiC products. SLMS™ technology is for lightweight, athermal optics, telescopes, scan mirrors, and antennas for operation in the microwave to extreme ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum over a wide range of temperatures.

• Less than 10 kg/m2 areal density
• Figure accuracy (0.02 waves RMS HeNe), surface finish (< 5 Angstroms RMS) and surface quality (20/20 scratch/dig) suitable for extreme ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths
• Vacuum-cryogenic-qualified to 27 Kelvin at NASA MSFC X-Ray Calibration Facility (XRCF)
• <^/60 RMS change in figure from 300 Kelvin to 27 Kelvin
• Achieved technology readiness level 6 for mirrors and mounted mirror subassembly
• Best cryogenic performance of any dielectric coated mirror tested at XRCF

• Lightweight Optical Systems (LWOS) business area is part of Space & Directed Energy Division
• SLMS™ and LASIT™ (Lightweight Athermal SLMS Innovative Telescope) product lines
• Multiple NASA and DoD Phase I and Phase II SBIR awards.
• Commercial contracts with several major system houses
• Cumulative sales revenues over $2M in second year
• Developing ISO9001:2000 quality assurance
• Primary target markets: Optical instruments for NASA missions; fast-steering mirrors and optics for airborne and space high-energy laser systems; telescopes for imaging, surveillance and Lasercom; scan mirrors for GOES-R Weather Satellite, small sats

• NASA and NOAA government/civilian: environmental monitoring (GOES-R, Lidar); planetary exploration (Space Interferometer Mission); space-based astronomy (Explorer, Discovery and Origins missions)
• Defense: High-energy laser systems (ABL, M-THEL, ATL, SSL, SBL); imaging, surveillance and reconnaissance (telescopes); transformational communications (Lasercom, optical/RF antennas)
  

  
  
  

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