Ultrafast mirrors

Ultrafast & Ti: Sapphire Mirrors

ARO designed a comprehensive set of specially designed mirrors for ultrafast applications. E-Max mirrors are optimized to attain the highest pulse Energy damage threshold. B-Max coatings are optimized to deliver the Broadest possible bandwidth. We also offer a unique spectral shaping filter and optical flat mirror solutions.

Ti:Sapphire Mirrors

Our ultrafast mirrors are designed to deliver superior performance for demanding beam steering tasks in Ti:Sapphire laser applications. Close cooperation between our design staff and leading ultrafast optics researchers has enabled our optical fabrication technology develop to precision optics that deliver an optimum combination of high reflectivity, broad spectral bandwidth, excellent laser damage resistance, and minimal group delay dispersion.
Sapphire Mirror
E-Max & B-Max Mirrors

ARO supplies two standard series of ultrafast laser mirrors. Our B-Max coatings are optimized to deliver the Broadest possible bandwidth, while our E-Max reflectors are specifically optimized to attain the highest pulse Energy damage threshold. In addition to these stock components, we can readily produce precision optics customized in virtually every aspect, including size, shape, substrate material, surface specifications and performance characteristics. Please contact our technical sales department to discuss your custom optics requirements.

High bandwidth B-Max coatings at 800 nm
Wavelength
(nm)		 Diameter
(mm)		 Thickness
(mm)		 Angle of
Incidence		 Reflectivity
(%)		 Part
Number
25.4 9.525 0° 99.5 MR6020
25.4 9.525 45° 99.5 MR6040
50.8 9.525 0° 99.5 MR6060
50.8 9.525 45° 99.5 MR6080
High laser damage E-Max Coatings at 800 nm
Wavelength
(nm)		 Diameter
(mm)		 Thickness
(mm)		 Angle of
Incidence		 Reflectivity
(%)		 Part
Number
25.4 9.525 0° 99.5 MR6220
25.4 9.525 45° 99.5 MR6240
50.8 9.525 0° 99.5 MR6260
50.8 9.525 45° 99.5 MR6280

Optical Mirrors Specifications

  • Clear Aperture: 85%
  • Wedge:<5 arc minutes
  • Flatness: λ/10 at 633 nm
  • Surface Quality: 10-5
  • Material: Fused Silica
  • Thickness Tolerance: ±0.25 mm
  • Chamfer: 0.50 mm at 45°
  • Diameter Tolerance: +0.00, -0.13 mm
  • Rear Surface: Commercial Polish
 

Spectral Shaping Filter

Our unique shaping filter provides a simple route to shorter pulses (as short as 10 femtoseconds) from Titanium: sapphire ultrafast amplifiers. This new intra-cavity optic is a dielectric coated filter with a spectral transmission curve designed to precisely compensate for the wavelength dependence of the Titanium: sapphire gain curve. Since the center wavelengths near 800 nm are preferentially amplified, the amplified pulse is effectively narrowed in wavelength (narrowing results in pulse lengthening in transform-limited laser pulses).

spectral shaper
PARTS CATALOG

Our spectral shaper is an intra-cavity coated optic that has a transmission curve that is the mirror image of the Ti:S gain curve. With this optic inserted in an amplifier, the spectral curve for single-pass cavity gain is now a flat line rather than a gaussian. Both the center wavelength and the magnitude of the single-pass gain correction can be easily adjusted with the Spectral Shaping Filter. Specifically, varying the angle of incidence at which the optic is mounted causes a shift in the center wavelength.

This enables the filter performance to be matched to the skewed gain curve of chirped amplifiers. And, by rotating the filter angle relative to the beam polarization, its transmission maximum can be smoothly increased or decreased. This allows the same filter to be used in both a multi-pass or regenerative type amplifier. The particular performance specifications of the spectral filter can be optimized for OEM upon request. For more detailed information on how the it works, see the technical white paper entitled “The ARO Gain Flattener for Ultrafast Amplifiers.” Also, be sure to check out ultrafast polarizers section on our website.

Spectral Shaping Filter Catalog
Wavelength
(nm)		 Diameter
(mm)		 Thickness
(mm)		 Angle of
Incidence		 Reflectivity
(%)		 Part
Number
800 25.4 2.0 40° to 50° 65 ± 8 SF6040
800 50.8 4.0 40° to 50° 65 ± 8 SF6080

Spectral Filter

Specifications
  • Clear Aperture: 85%
  • Wedge: <5 arc minutes
  • Wavefront Distortion: < λ/10 at 633 nm over any 4 mm sub-aperture
  • Surface Quality: 20-10
  • Material: Fused Silica
  • Thickness Tolerance: ±0.25 mm
  • Chamfer: 0.50 mm at 45°
  • Diameter Tolerance: +0.00, -0.13 mm
  • Rear Surface: Commercial Polish