Off-axis parabolic mirror

OAP inherits all the superior optical properties of a standard parabolic mirror (such as being free of spherical aberration) while its off-axis design completely eliminates the problem of central obstruction in the optical path. This enables OAPs to achieve unobstructed, high-purity beam transmission and control, making them the ideal choice for building compact and efficient complex optical systems.

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Working Principle & Core Advantages
A full parabolic mirror perfectly focuses collimated light (parallel to its axis) to a focal point. An OAP is a segment of that parabola, whose own optical axis is parallel to the parent's optical axis.

Free of Spherical Aberration: Features a parabolic optical surface for perfectly focusing collimated light or collimating point source light, delivering exceptional image quality.
Unobstructed Optical Path: This is the most significant advantage. Since the light path does not pass through the center of the mirror, it completely avoids the obstruction, energy loss, and diffraction effects caused by a secondary mirror (or the detector itself) required in traditional on-axis parabolic mirrors.
Reduced Stray Light: The unobstructed design significantly minimizes back-scattered light, enhancing the system's Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), which is critical for low-signal detection applications.
Simplified Optical Layout: Allows optical engineers to place components like detectors and light sources outside the beam path, facilitating the design of more compact and flexible optical systems.

Key Features & Advantages

Ultra-High Surface Accuracy: Manufactured using precision CNC machining and ion beam finishing, achieving surface accuracy up to λ/20 RMS (@632.8nm) or higher, ensuring minimal wavefront distortion.
Diverse Coating Options: Available with Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Aluminum (Al), and high-performance dielectric coatings, covering a broad spectrum from Ultraviolet (UV), Visible (VIS) to Far-Infrared (FIR).
High Laser Damage Threshold (LDT): Dielectric-coated OAPs designed for high-power laser applications can withstand extremely high laser power densities.
Superior Achromatic Performance: Based on reflection, it has the same focal length across all wavelengths, making it the ultimate solution for broadband applications.
Well-Defined Orientation: Specified by Off-Axis Angle and Effective Focal Length, ensuring precision in optical design.