Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors, Unprotected Gold Coating


  • Unprotected Gold Coating for 800 nm - 20 µm
  • Focus or Collimate Light without Spherical or Chromatic Aberrations
  • SM-Threaded, Unthreaded, and Post-Mountable Adapters Provide Flexible Mounting Options

MPD399-M03

Ø3", RFL = 9"

MPD129-M03

Ø1", RFL = 2"

MPD019-M03

Ø1/2", RFL = 1"

SM2MP

SM2-Threaded
Mounting Adapter

Ø2" Off-Axis Parabola in
a KS3 Mirror Mount with an
MP508P1 Mounting Adapter

Related Items


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Fabrication of Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors at Thorlabs
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After initial fabrication, all of our off-axis parabolic mirrors are finished on our single-point diamond turning machine. Visit our Custom Mirrors tab for more information.
Optical Coatings and Substrates
Optic Cleaning Tutorial
Engraved Back of OAP
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Engraving on Back of OAP Mirror

Features

  • >97% Average Reflectance Over a Broadband Range from 800 nm to 20 µm
  • Collimates a Diverging Source or Focuses a Collimated Beam without Spherical or Chromatic Aberrations
  • Reflected Focal Lengths: 15 mm to 9" (228.6 mm)
  • Surface Roughness: <100 Å (RMS)
  • Clear Aperture: >90% of Diameter
  • Three Kinds of Mounting Adapters for Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" Mirrors:
    • Externally SM-Threaded
    • Unthreaded for Use in Mirror Mounts
    • With 8-32 (M4) Taps for Post Mounting
  • One Mounting Adapter for Ø3" Mirrors with External SM2 Threading and 8-32 Taps for Post Mounting
  • Right-Angle Kinematic Mount for 30 mm Cage Systems and Ø1" OAP Mirrors

Thorlabs' Off-Axis Parabolic (OAP) Mirrors are first-surface mirrors which are segments of a parent paraboloid. They achromatically focus a collimated beam or collimate a divergent source, and their off-axis design separates the focal point from the rest of the beam path. The reflective design eliminates phase delays and absorption losses introduced by transmissive optics and makes these well suited for use with femtosecond pulsed lasers.

Zemax Files
Click on the red Document icon next to the item numbers below to access the Zemax file download. Our entire Zemax Catalog is also available.

The angle between the focused beam and the collimated beam (off-axis angle) is 90°. As shown to the left, the collimated beam should be normal to the bottom of the substrate to achieve a proper focus. The diamond-turned parabolic surface has an unprotected gold coating which provides >97% average reflectance from 800 nm - 20 µm (see the Graphs tab for a plot of the coating performance). Unprotected gold offers higher reflectance than protected gold but is more delicate. Additionally, these mirrors can be used in applications where the polarization state needs to be strictly maintained or to prevent dispersion due to the overcoat of protected gold mirrors.

The OAP mirrors sold here are fabricated using aluminum substrates. The bottom of each mirror has three tapped mounting holes in a triangle pattern and an alignment hole for use with a mounting adapter (see the OAP Mounting tab for more details). The non-optical surfaces are black-anodized and laser-engraved with the item number for easy identification as shown in the image to the right.

Care and Handling
The gold layer on unprotected mirrors does not include a protective overcoat. Bare gold does not oxidize in air, but can be easily damaged by fingerprints, aerosols, or the slightest contact with any abrasive material. Unprotected gold mirrors should only be handled when necessary and always held by the sides. Latex gloves or a similar protective covering should be worn to prevent oil from fingers from reaching the surface. No attempt should be made to clean the surface other than blowing off dust with clean, dry air or nitrogen. Any other cleaning method may damage the surface.

Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors Selection Guidea
Mirror Coating
(See Graphs Tab
for Reflectance)
Wavelength
Range
90 Degrees Off-Axis
90° Off-Axis
15, 30, 45, 60 Degrees Off-Axis
15°, 30°, 45°, or 60°
Off-Axis
90 Degrees Hole Parallel to Focused Beam
90°, Hole Parallel to
Focused Beam
90 Degrees Hole Parallel to Collimated Beam
90°, Hole Parallel to
Collimated Beam
UV-Enhanced Aluminum 250 nm - 450 nm Customb
Protected Aluminum 450 nm - 20 µm Customb
Protected Silver 450 nm - 20 µm Customb
Protected Gold 800 nm - 20 µm
Unprotected Gold 800 nm - 20 µm Customb
  • To view the product presentation for each of our stocked off-axis parabolic mirrors, click the blue check icon ().
  • We can manufacture off-axis parabolic mirrors with a variety of coatings, features, and off-axis angles. To request a quote for a custom mirror, please contact Tech Support.
Common Specifications
Metallic Coating Unprotected Gold
Reflectance (Average) >97% from 800 nm to 20 µm
Off-Axis Angle 90°
Clear Aperture >90% of Diametera
Surface Roughness (RMS)  <100 Å
Surface Quality  40-20 Scratch-Dig
Parent Focal Length Tolerance ±1%
Reflected Focal Length Tolerance ±1%
Substrate Aluminum
Manufacturing Process Diamond Turned
  • The diameter is defined in the drawing to the right.

 

Item # Diametera Thicknessa RFLa,b PFLa,c Reflected Wavefront
Error
Bottom
Mounting Holes
MPD00M9-M03 1/2" (12.7 mm) 20.0 mm (0.79") 15.0 mm (0.59") 7.5 mm (0.30") <λ/4 RMS at 633 nm 4-40 Taps in
Radial Pattern
(3 Places)
MPD019-M03 1/2" (12.7 mm) 0.74" (18.8 mm) 1" (25.4 mm) 1/2" (12.7 mm)
MPD01M9-M03 1/2" (12.7 mm) 20.0 mm (0.79") 33.0 mm (1.30") 16.5 mm (0.65")
MPD029-M03 1/2" (12.7 mm) 0.74" (18.8 mm) 2" (50.8 mm) 1" (25.4 mm)
MPD039-M03 1/2" (12.7 mm) 0.74" (18.8 mm) 3" (76.2 mm) 1.5" (38.1 mm)
MPD119-M03 1" (25.4 mm) 1.25" (31.7 mm) 1" (25.4 mm) 1/2" (12.7 mm) <λ/2 RMS at 633 nm
MPD129-M03 1" (25.4 mm) 1.25" (31.7 mm) 2" (50.8 mm) 1" (25.4 mm) <λ/4 RMS at 633 nm
MPD139-M03 1" (25.4 mm) 1.25" (31.7 mm) 3" (76.2 mm) 1.5" (38.1 mm)
MPD149-M03 1" (25.4 mm) 1.25" (31.7 mm) 4" (101.6 mm) 2" (50.8 mm)
MPD169-M03 1" (25.4 mm) 1.25" (31.7 mm) 6" (152.4 mm) 3" (76.2 mm)
MPD189-M03 1" (25.4 mm) 1.25" (31.7 mm) 8" (203.2 mm) 4" (101.6 mm)
MPD229-M03 2" (50.8 mm) 2.47" (62.8 mm) 2" (50.8 mm) 1" (25.4 mm) <λ/2 RMS at 633 nm 8-32 Taps in
Radial Pattern
(3 Places)
MPD239-M03 2" (50.8 mm) 2.47" (62.8 mm) 3" (76.2 mm) 1.5" (38.1 mm)
MPD249-M03 2" (50.8 mm) 2.47" (62.8 mm) 4" (101.6 mm) 2" (50.8 mm) <λ/4 RMS at 633 nm
MPD269-M03 2" (50.8 mm) 2.47" (62.8 mm) 6" (152.4 mm) 3" (76.2 mm)
MPD399-M03 3" (76.2 mm) 3.47" (88.2 mm) 9" (228.6 mm) 4.5" (114.3 mm) <λ/2 RMS at 633 nm
  • The drawing to the right defines these quantities.
  • Reflected Focal Length
  • Parent Focal Length

The shaded region in the graph below denotes the ranges over which we guarantee the specified reflectance. Please note that the reflectance outside of this band is typical and can vary from lot to lot, especially in out-of-band regions where the reflectance is fluctuating or sloped.

Unprotected Gold -M03
Click to Enlarge

Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for -M03 Coating at 45° AOI



Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for Our Metallic Coatings

Video Insight: How to Align an Off-Axis Parabolic (OAP) Mirror 

Choosing the right mounting adapter is the first step in aligning an OAP mirror. Guidance on how to select the right mounting adapter is located below. For information on how to align an OAP mirror, watch our video to the right. 

 

Mounting Adapters Selection Guide

Mounting Adapter Installation
Click to Enlarge

Mounting Adapter Installation
(Smooth Bore Adapter Shown)

The bottom of each off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirror contains three tapped mounting holes in a triangle pattern and an alignment hole. These holes are used to attach our Mounting Adapters, which contain three corresponding counterbore holes or captive screws and an alignment pin (see the image to the right). Together, these features allow our OAP mirrors to be securely mounted. The tapped holes are also useful in OEM applications.

We offer three types of mounting plates for Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" OAP mirrors. The first type is designed to be mounted in any Ø1", Ø2", or Ø3" mirror mount, depending upon the diameter of the OAP mirror. The second type, designed for post mounting, contains an 8-32 (M4) tapped hole on all four sides for direct mechanical compatibility with Ø1/2" Posts. The third type is externally SM threaded for direct compatibility with any of our internally SM-threaded components, such as our rotation mounts. For Ø1" 90° OAP mirrors, the KCB1P(/M) right-angle mount allows for cage system integration. The table below shows all of these options.

Our Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2" OAP mirrors can also be adapted to our SM threads by placing them into our SM Thread to Double Bore Adapters. This type of adapter allows rotation of the OAP mirror with respect to the adapter prior to securing its position, whereas when using the SM-threaded adapters offered on this page, the final location of the OAP mirror is dictated either by the threads themselves (when fully threaded into a mount) or by using the provided retaining ring to secure it in place.

For Ø3" OAP mirrors, we offer the SM2MP3 mounting adapter, which contains four 8-32 tapped holes for post mounting and has external SM2 threading for mounting in our SM2-threaded components, such as the K6X2 6-axis kinematic mount.

Alternatively, all of our OAP mirrors may be directly mounted in our Precision Kinematic Mirror Mounts using their outer diameter.

OAP Mirror Mounting Adapters
Adapter Type Example Photo
(Click to Enlarge)
OAP Mirror Diameter
1/2" 1" 2" 3"
Smooth Bore Smooth Bore OAP Adapter MP127P1
For Ø1" Mounts
MP254P1
For Ø2" Mounts
MP508P1a
For Ø3" Mounts
-
Post Mounting Post Mount OAP Adapter MP127P2(/M)
8-32 (M4) Taps
MP254P2(/M)
8-32 (M4) Taps
MP508P2(/M)a
8-32 (M4) Taps
SM2MP3
8-32 Taps
SM-Threaded SM-Threaded OAP Adapter SM05MP
External
SM05 (0.535"-40)
SM1MP
External
SM1 (1.035"-40)
SM2MPa
External
SM2 (2.035"-40)
SM2MP3
External
SM2 (2.035"-40)
Right-Angle OAP
Mirror Mount
Right-Angle OAP Mount - KCB1P(/M)
30 mm Cage Compatible
1/4"-20 (M6) Tap
- -
  • Please note that these mounting adapters for Ø2" OAP mirrors do not have a centered hole for a through beam parallel to the collimated beam. Our smooth bore mounting adapters can be used to mount Ø2" OAP mirrors with through holes.

Selecting a Mirror Based on Desired Output Beam Diameter

When using an off-axis parabolic mirror to collimate a point source, selection of the appropriate mirror is often done based on the desired output beam diameter. Beam diameter can be calculated using the divergence half-angle of the incident light (Θ) and the reflected focal length of the OAP. To calculate the beam diameter in the small angle approximation, use the following equation:

Beam Diameter = 2 x sin(Θ) x Reflected Focal Length

If you are collimating from a fiber, the equation can be rewritten as:

Beam Diameter = 2 x NA (Fiber) x Reflected Focal Length

The graph to the right visualizes the equations above, showing the relationship between the point source's divergence and collimated beam diameter. Each line represents an OAP with a particular reflected focal length. Not listed here is the diameter of the OAP. The clear aperture of the OAP you select should be larger than the desired beam output diameter.

Damage Threshold Specifications
Coating Designation (Item # Suffix) Damage Threshold
-M03 (Pulsed) 0.5 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø1 mm)
5 J/cm2 (10.6 µm, 100 ns, 1 Hz, Ø0.366 mm)
-M03 (CWa) 1000 W/cm (1070 nm, Ø1.004 mm)
2000 W/cm (10.6 µm, Ø0.109 mm)
  • The power density of your beam should be calculated in terms of W/cm. For an explanation of why the linear power density provides the best metric for long pulse and CW sources, please see the "Continuous Wave and Long-Pulse Lasers" section below.

Damage Threshold Data for Thorlabs' Unprotected Gold Coating, Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors

The specifications to the right are measured data for Thorlabs' unprotected gold coating, off-axis parabolic mirrors. Damage threshold specifications are constant for this coating type, regardless of the size or focal length of the mirror.

 

Laser Induced Damage Threshold Tutorial

The following is a general overview of how laser induced damage thresholds are measured and how the values may be utilized in determining the appropriateness of an optic for a given application. When choosing optics, it is important to understand the Laser Induced Damage Threshold (LIDT) of the optics being used. The LIDT for an optic greatly depends on the type of laser you are using. Continuous wave (CW) lasers typically cause damage from thermal effects (absorption either in the coating or in the substrate). Pulsed lasers, on the other hand, often strip electrons from the lattice structure of an optic before causing thermal damage. Note that the guideline presented here assumes room temperature operation and optics in new condition (i.e., within scratch-dig spec, surface free of contamination, etc.). Because dust or other particles on the surface of an optic can cause damage at lower thresholds, we recommend keeping surfaces clean and free of debris. For more information on cleaning optics, please see our Optics Cleaning tutorial.

Testing Method

Thorlabs' LIDT testing is done in compliance with ISO/DIS 11254 and ISO 21254 specifications.

First, a low-power/energy beam is directed to the optic under test. The optic is exposed in 10 locations to this laser beam for 30 seconds (CW) or for a number of pulses (pulse repetition frequency specified). After exposure, the optic is examined by a microscope (~100X magnification) for any visible damage. The number of locations that are damaged at a particular power/energy level is recorded. Next, the power/energy is either increased or decreased and the optic is exposed at 10 new locations. This process is repeated until damage is observed. The damage threshold is then assigned to be the highest power/energy that the optic can withstand without causing damage. A histogram such as that below represents the testing of one BB1-E02 mirror.

LIDT metallic mirror
The photograph above is a protected aluminum-coated mirror after LIDT testing. In this particular test, it handled 0.43 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns pulse, 10 Hz, Ø1.000 mm) before damage.
LIDT BB1-E02
Example Test Data
Fluence # of Tested Locations Locations with Damage Locations Without Damage
1.50 J/cm2 10 0 10
1.75 J/cm2 10 0 10
2.00 J/cm2 10 0 10
2.25 J/cm2 10 1 9
3.00 J/cm2 10 1 9
5.00 J/cm2 10 9 1

According to the test, the damage threshold of the mirror was 2.00 J/cm2 (532 nm, 10 ns pulse, 10 Hz, Ø0.803 mm). Please keep in mind that these tests are performed on clean optics, as dirt and contamination can significantly lower the damage threshold of a component. While the test results are only representative of one coating run, Thorlabs specifies damage threshold values that account for coating variances.

Continuous Wave and Long-Pulse Lasers

When an optic is damaged by a continuous wave (CW) laser, it is usually due to the melting of the surface as a result of absorbing the laser's energy or damage to the optical coating (antireflection) [1]. Pulsed lasers with pulse lengths longer than 1 µs can be treated as CW lasers for LIDT discussions.

When pulse lengths are between 1 ns and 1 µs, laser-induced damage can occur either because of absorption or a dielectric breakdown (therefore, a user must check both CW and pulsed LIDT). Absorption is either due to an intrinsic property of the optic or due to surface irregularities; thus LIDT values are only valid for optics meeting or exceeding the surface quality specifications given by a manufacturer. While many optics can handle high power CW lasers, cemented (e.g., achromatic doublets) or highly absorptive (e.g., ND filters) optics tend to have lower CW damage thresholds. These lower thresholds are due to absorption or scattering in the cement or metal coating.

Linear Power Density Scaling

LIDT in linear power density vs. pulse length and spot size. For long pulses to CW, linear power density becomes a constant with spot size. This graph was obtained from [1].

Intensity Distribution

Pulsed lasers with high pulse repetition frequencies (PRF) may behave similarly to CW beams. Unfortunately, this is highly dependent on factors such as absorption and thermal diffusivity, so there is no reliable method for determining when a high PRF laser will damage an optic due to thermal effects. For beams with a high PRF both the average and peak powers must be compared to the equivalent CW power. Additionally, for highly transparent materials, there is little to no drop in the LIDT with increasing PRF.

In order to use the specified CW damage threshold of an optic, it is necessary to know the following:

  1. Wavelength of your laser
  2. Beam diameter of your beam (1/e2)
  3. Approximate intensity profile of your beam (e.g., Gaussian)
  4. Linear power density of your beam (total power divided by 1/e2 beam diameter)

Thorlabs expresses LIDT for CW lasers as a linear power density measured in W/cm. In this regime, the LIDT given as a linear power density can be applied to any beam diameter; one does not need to compute an adjusted LIDT to adjust for changes in spot size, as demonstrated by the graph to the right. Average linear power density can be calculated using the equation below. 

The calculation above assumes a uniform beam intensity profile. You must now consider hotspots in the beam or other non-uniform intensity profiles and roughly calculate a maximum power density. For reference, a Gaussian beam typically has a maximum power density that is twice that of the uniform beam (see lower right).

Now compare the maximum power density to that which is specified as the LIDT for the optic. If the optic was tested at a wavelength other than your operating wavelength, the damage threshold must be scaled appropriately. A good rule of thumb is that the damage threshold has a linear relationship with wavelength such that as you move to shorter wavelengths, the damage threshold decreases (i.e., a LIDT of 10 W/cm at 1310 nm scales to 5 W/cm at 655 nm):

CW Wavelength Scaling

While this rule of thumb provides a general trend, it is not a quantitative analysis of LIDT vs wavelength. In CW applications, for instance, damage scales more strongly with absorption in the coating and substrate, which does not necessarily scale well with wavelength. While the above procedure provides a good rule of thumb for LIDT values, please contact Tech Support if your wavelength is different from the specified LIDT wavelength. If your power density is less than the adjusted LIDT of the optic, then the optic should work for your application. 

Please note that we have a buffer built in between the specified damage thresholds online and the tests which we have done, which accommodates variation between batches. Upon request, we can provide individual test information and a testing certificate. The damage analysis will be carried out on a similar optic (customer's optic will not be damaged). Testing may result in additional costs or lead times. Contact Tech Support for more information.

Pulsed Lasers

As previously stated, pulsed lasers typically induce a different type of damage to the optic than CW lasers. Pulsed lasers often do not heat the optic enough to damage it; instead, pulsed lasers produce strong electric fields capable of inducing dielectric breakdown in the material. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to compare the LIDT specification of an optic to your laser. There are multiple regimes in which a pulsed laser can damage an optic and this is based on the laser's pulse length. The highlighted columns in the table below outline the relevant pulse lengths for our specified LIDT values.

Pulses shorter than 10-9 s cannot be compared to our specified LIDT values with much reliability. In this ultra-short-pulse regime various mechanics, such as multiphoton-avalanche ionization, take over as the predominate damage mechanism [2]. In contrast, pulses between 10-7 s and 10-4 s may cause damage to an optic either because of dielectric breakdown or thermal effects. This means that both CW and pulsed damage thresholds must be compared to the laser beam to determine whether the optic is suitable for your application.

Pulse Duration t < 10-9 s 10-9 < t < 10-7 s 10-7 < t < 10-4 s t > 10-4 s
Damage Mechanism Avalanche Ionization Dielectric Breakdown Dielectric Breakdown or Thermal Thermal
Relevant Damage Specification No Comparison (See Above) Pulsed Pulsed and CW CW

When comparing an LIDT specified for a pulsed laser to your laser, it is essential to know the following:

Energy Density Scaling

LIDT in energy density vs. pulse length and spot size. For short pulses, energy density becomes a constant with spot size. This graph was obtained from [1].

  1. Wavelength of your laser
  2. Energy density of your beam (total energy divided by 1/e2 area)
  3. Pulse length of your laser
  4. Pulse repetition frequency (prf) of your laser
  5. Beam diameter of your laser (1/e2 )
  6. Approximate intensity profile of your beam (e.g., Gaussian)

The energy density of your beam should be calculated in terms of J/cm2. The graph to the right shows why expressing the LIDT as an energy density provides the best metric for short pulse sources. In this regime, the LIDT given as an energy density can be applied to any beam diameter; one does not need to compute an adjusted LIDT to adjust for changes in spot size. This calculation assumes a uniform beam intensity profile. You must now adjust this energy density to account for hotspots or other nonuniform intensity profiles and roughly calculate a maximum energy density. For reference a Gaussian beam typically has a maximum energy density that is twice that of the 1/e2 beam.

Now compare the maximum energy density to that which is specified as the LIDT for the optic. If the optic was tested at a wavelength other than your operating wavelength, the damage threshold must be scaled appropriately [3]. A good rule of thumb is that the damage threshold has an inverse square root relationship with wavelength such that as you move to shorter wavelengths, the damage threshold decreases (i.e., a LIDT of 1 J/cm2 at 1064 nm scales to 0.7 J/cm2 at 532 nm):

Pulse Wavelength Scaling

You now have a wavelength-adjusted energy density, which you will use in the following step.

Beam diameter is also important to know when comparing damage thresholds. While the LIDT, when expressed in units of J/cm², scales independently of spot size; large beam sizes are more likely to illuminate a larger number of defects which can lead to greater variances in the LIDT [4]. For data presented here, a <1 mm beam size was used to measure the LIDT. For beams sizes greater than 5 mm, the LIDT (J/cm2) will not scale independently of beam diameter due to the larger size beam exposing more defects.

The pulse length must now be compensated for. The longer the pulse duration, the more energy the optic can handle. For pulse widths between 1 - 100 ns, an approximation is as follows:

Pulse Length Scaling

Use this formula to calculate the Adjusted LIDT for an optic based on your pulse length. If your maximum energy density is less than this adjusted LIDT maximum energy density, then the optic should be suitable for your application. Keep in mind that this calculation is only used for pulses between 10-9 s and 10-7 s. For pulses between 10-7 s and 10-4 s, the CW LIDT must also be checked before deeming the optic appropriate for your application.

Please note that we have a buffer built in between the specified damage thresholds online and the tests which we have done, which accommodates variation between batches. Upon request, we can provide individual test information and a testing certificate. Contact Tech Support for more information.


[1] R. M. Wood, Optics and Laser Tech. 29, 517 (1998).
[2] Roger M. Wood, Laser-Induced Damage of Optical Materials (Institute of Physics Publishing, Philadelphia, PA, 2003).
[3] C. W. Carr et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 127402 (2003).
[4] N. Bloembergen, Appl. Opt. 12, 661 (1973).

In order to illustrate the process of determining whether a given laser system will damage an optic, a number of example calculations of laser induced damage threshold are given below. For assistance with performing similar calculations, we provide a spreadsheet calculator that can be downloaded by clicking the button to the right. To use the calculator, enter the specified LIDT value of the optic under consideration and the relevant parameters of your laser system in the green boxes. The spreadsheet will then calculate a linear power density for CW and pulsed systems, as well as an energy density value for pulsed systems. These values are used to calculate adjusted, scaled LIDT values for the optics based on accepted scaling laws. This calculator assumes a Gaussian beam profile, so a correction factor must be introduced for other beam shapes (uniform, etc.). The LIDT scaling laws are determined from empirical relationships; their accuracy is not guaranteed. Remember that absorption by optics or coatings can significantly reduce LIDT in some spectral regions. These LIDT values are not valid for ultrashort pulses less than one nanosecond in duration.

Intensity Distribution
A Gaussian beam profile has about twice the maximum intensity of a uniform beam profile.

CW Laser Example
Suppose that a CW laser system at 1319 nm produces a 0.5 W Gaussian beam that has a 1/e2 diameter of 10 mm. A naive calculation of the average linear power density of this beam would yield a value of 0.5 W/cm, given by the total power divided by the beam diameter:

CW Wavelength Scaling

However, the maximum power density of a Gaussian beam is about twice the maximum power density of a uniform beam, as shown in the graph to the right. Therefore, a more accurate determination of the maximum linear power density of the system is 1 W/cm.

An AC127-030-C achromatic doublet lens has a specified CW LIDT of 350 W/cm, as tested at 1550 nm. CW damage threshold values typically scale directly with the wavelength of the laser source, so this yields an adjusted LIDT value:

CW Wavelength Scaling

The adjusted LIDT value of 350 W/cm x (1319 nm / 1550 nm) = 298 W/cm is significantly higher than the calculated maximum linear power density of the laser system, so it would be safe to use this doublet lens for this application.

Pulsed Nanosecond Laser Example: Scaling for Different Pulse Durations
Suppose that a pulsed Nd:YAG laser system is frequency tripled to produce a 10 Hz output, consisting of 2 ns output pulses at 355 nm, each with 1 J of energy, in a Gaussian beam with a 1.9 cm beam diameter (1/e2). The average energy density of each pulse is found by dividing the pulse energy by the beam area:

Pulse Energy Density

As described above, the maximum energy density of a Gaussian beam is about twice the average energy density. So, the maximum energy density of this beam is ~0.7 J/cm2.

The energy density of the beam can be compared to the LIDT values of 1 J/cm2 and 3.5 J/cm2 for a BB1-E01 broadband dielectric mirror and an NB1-K08 Nd:YAG laser line mirror, respectively. Both of these LIDT values, while measured at 355 nm, were determined with a 10 ns pulsed laser at 10 Hz. Therefore, an adjustment must be applied for the shorter pulse duration of the system under consideration. As described on the previous tab, LIDT values in the nanosecond pulse regime scale with the square root of the laser pulse duration:

Pulse Length Scaling

This adjustment factor results in LIDT values of 0.45 J/cm2 for the BB1-E01 broadband mirror and 1.6 J/cm2 for the Nd:YAG laser line mirror, which are to be compared with the 0.7 J/cm2 maximum energy density of the beam. While the broadband mirror would likely be damaged by the laser, the more specialized laser line mirror is appropriate for use with this system.

Pulsed Nanosecond Laser Example: Scaling for Different Wavelengths
Suppose that a pulsed laser system emits 10 ns pulses at 2.5 Hz, each with 100 mJ of energy at 1064 nm in a 16 mm diameter beam (1/e2) that must be attenuated with a neutral density filter. For a Gaussian output, these specifications result in a maximum energy density of 0.1 J/cm2. The damage threshold of an NDUV10A Ø25 mm, OD 1.0, reflective neutral density filter is 0.05 J/cm2 for 10 ns pulses at 355 nm, while the damage threshold of the similar NE10A absorptive filter is 10 J/cm2 for 10 ns pulses at 532 nm. As described on the previous tab, the LIDT value of an optic scales with the square root of the wavelength in the nanosecond pulse regime:

Pulse Wavelength Scaling

This scaling gives adjusted LIDT values of 0.08 J/cm2 for the reflective filter and 14 J/cm2 for the absorptive filter. In this case, the absorptive filter is the best choice in order to avoid optical damage.

Pulsed Microsecond Laser Example
Consider a laser system that produces 1 µs pulses, each containing 150 µJ of energy at a repetition rate of 50 kHz, resulting in a relatively high duty cycle of 5%. This system falls somewhere between the regimes of CW and pulsed laser induced damage, and could potentially damage an optic by mechanisms associated with either regime. As a result, both CW and pulsed LIDT values must be compared to the properties of the laser system to ensure safe operation.

If this relatively long-pulse laser emits a Gaussian 12.7 mm diameter beam (1/e2) at 980 nm, then the resulting output has a linear power density of 5.9 W/cm and an energy density of 1.2 x 10-4 J/cm2 per pulse. This can be compared to the LIDT values for a WPQ10E-980 polymer zero-order quarter-wave plate, which are 5 W/cm for CW radiation at 810 nm and 5 J/cm2 for a 10 ns pulse at 810 nm. As before, the CW LIDT of the optic scales linearly with the laser wavelength, resulting in an adjusted CW value of 6 W/cm at 980 nm. On the other hand, the pulsed LIDT scales with the square root of the laser wavelength and the square root of the pulse duration, resulting in an adjusted value of 55 J/cm2 for a 1 µs pulse at 980 nm. The pulsed LIDT of the optic is significantly greater than the energy density of the laser pulse, so individual pulses will not damage the wave plate. However, the large average linear power density of the laser system may cause thermal damage to the optic, much like a high-power CW beam.

Custom Off-Axis Parabolic (OAP) and Aspheric Mirrors

Key Capabilities

  • Nanotech® 450UPL Ultra Precision 3-Axis CNC Diamond Turning Lathe for Individual Custom Mirrors
  • Custom Sizes, Focal Lengths, Substrates, Coatings, and Clearance Holes
  • Off- and On-Axis Parabolic, Conical, and Toroidal Mirrors
  • Biconic Surfaces and Irregular Aspheric Optics

Thorlabs' advanced single-point diamond turning capabilities allow us to produce custom OAP and aspheric mirrors in small quantities. We can produce long focal length and large diameter optics, as well as optics with custom shapes.
Toroidal Mirror
Click to Enlarge

We offer OAP mirrors with custom sizes, focal lengths, substrates, coatings, and clearance holes.

In addition to our stock off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirrors, Thorlabs is also capable of manufacturing a variety of custom aspheric mirrors. Our unique single-point diamond turning (SPDT) capabilities allow us to produce these customs in low quantities at prices that are comparable with our stock offerings. As shown in the video to the right, we engage the slow-slide-servo process of our SPDT machine to polish individual off-axis mirrors by synchronizing the rotational position of the spindle with the linear position of the translation axes.

Toroidal Mirror
Click to Enlarge

Toroidal mirrors have two different radii of curvature and are used to image off-axis points without introducing astigmatism.
Conical Mirror
Click to Enlarge

Conical mirrors provide 360° of illumination.

This unique manufacturing capability allows us to provide OAP mirrors with custom reflected focal lengths and diameters, including long-focal-length and large-diameter optics that cannot be produced by conventional two-axis machining. In addition, we can produce OAP mirrors with a variety of custom substrates (including copper), custom coatings, and custom hole sizes and shapes. The use of copper substrates and other advanced techniques also allow us to offer OAP mirrors with enhanced finishes that exhibit less surface roughness than our our stock products, resulting in improved wavefront quality.

Our SPDT competency also enables us to produce mirrors with other custom biconic surfaces and aspheric shapes, including on-axis parabolic, conical, and toroidal mirrors. These custom mirror shapes can be used in a wide variety of optical instruments and specialized imaging systems. For example, toroidal mirrors, which are used to image off-axis points without introducing astigmatism, are commonly used in compact Czerny-Turner monochromators. Conical mirrors, on the other hand, are ideal for non-imaging applications that require 360° of uniform illumination.

We are generally able to produce custom OAP mirrors and aspheric mirrors with short lead times. For modifications to an existing part, delivery in 4-6 weeks is standard. For custom shapes and long focal length optics, a 6-8 week lead time is typical. To receive more information or a quote for a custom optic, please contact Tech Support.

Our engineers are available to help manufacture optics for your application.

Customs are available in low quantities at prices that are comparable with our stock catalog products.
Please contact techsupport@thorlabs.com with your custom optic requests.

Insights into Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors

Scroll down to read about the unique properties of off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirrors and how to take advantage of them:

  • Focus Collimated Light / Collimate Light from a Point Source
  • Benefits of Pairing OAP Mirrors
  • Mounting and Aligning an OAP Mirror

Click here for more insights into lab practices and equipment.

 

Focus Collimated Light / Collimate Light from a Point Source

Parabolic and off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirrors will only provide the expected well-collimated beam or diffraction-limited focal spot when the correct beam type is incident along the proper axis. This due to the parabolic shape of these mirrors' reflective surfaces, which are not symmetric around their focal points.

Parabolic vs. Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
The reflective surface of an OAP mirror is a section of the parent parabola that is not centered on the parent's optical axis (Figure 1). A conventional parabolic mirror is illustrated in Figure 2.

The optical axis of an OAP mirror is parallel to, but displaced from the optical axis of the parent parabola. The focal point of the OAP mirror coincides with that of the parent parabola.

The focal axis of the OAP mirror passes through the focal point and the center of the OAP mirror. The focal and optical axes of an OAP mirror are not parallel. In contrast, these axes coincide for parabolic mirrors whose reflective surfaces are centered on optical axis of the parent parabola.

Focus Collimated Light
If a parabolic or OAP mirror is being used to focus a beam of collimated light to a diffraction-limited point, the light must be directed along the mirror's optical axis (Figures 1 and 2).

Collimated light that is not directed parallel to the optical axis will not focus to a unique point (Figure 3).

Thorlabs recommends against directing collimated light along the focal axis of OAP mirrors, or along any direction that is not parallel to the optical axis, since the light will not focus to a diffraction-limited spot.

Collimate Light from a Point Source
To obtain highly collimated light from a point source, the point source should be located at the mirror's focal point.

Light from a point source will be poorly collimated if the point source is placed along the OAP mirror's optical axis, or anywhere else that is not the focal point.

An OAP mirror can also be used to collimate a spherical wave, if its origin coincides with the focal point of the mirror.

Parabolic mirror does not focus light to diffraction-limited spot when collimated beam not parallel to optical axis
Click to Enlarge

Figure 3: When the collimated beam is not directed along the mirror's optical axis, the mirror does not provide a diffraction-limited spot. Instead, the focal region is spread out.
Parabolic mirrors focus to diffraction-limited spot collimated light parallel to optical axis
Click to Enlarge

Figure 2: When the collimated beam is parallel to the optical axis of a parabolic or OAP mirror, the light focuses to a diffraction-limited spot.
Focal and optical axes of off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirrors
Click to Enlarge

Figure 1: The focal and optical axes of an OAP mirror do not coincide and are not parallel.

Date of Last Edit: Dec. 4, 2019

 

Benefits of Pairing OAP Mirrors

off-axis parabolic mirrors in-line with optical fiber
Click to Enlarge

Figure 5: A pair of OAP mirrors can be used to couple light out of one fiber and into another. This provides access to the beam when it is necessary to insert bulk optics into the optical path. Due to the small dimension of the fiber core, light emitted from the fiber end face is similar to a point source.
Two off-axis parabolic mirrors used to relay a beam.
Click to Enlarge

Figure 4: A pair of OAP mirrors can be used in imaging applications, and/or to relay a beam across a distance.

Relay an Image
A single OAP mirror is not recommended for finite conjugate imaging applications, when neither light beam is collimated, but a pair of OAP mirrors can successfully be used for this purpose. An example setup is illustrated in Figure 4.

The dual OAP configuration facilitates the process of adjusting the distance between mirrors. The leg of collimated light is also convenient for inserting filters and other optical elements into the beam. Another benefit is that distance between the two mirrors can be adjusted to move the focal point across the source and/or target planes without disturbing the alignment of the system.

Provide Access to the Beam in a Fiber Network
A pair of OAP mirrors can be used to create a free-space leg in an optical fiber system, which is one way to provide access to the light beam. The illustration in Figure 5 shows an example of this configuration, which can be useful when filters or other bulk optics need to be inserted into the beam path. The length of the free-space leg can be adjusted without disturbing alignment.

When setting up this system, the fibers' end faces must be aligned so that their cores coincide with the source and target focal points, respectively. The collimated beam paths of both mirrors should be co-linear and completely overlapping.

This configuration is the basis for fiber optic filter / attenuator mounts.

Date of Last Edit: Dec. 4, 2019

 

Mounting and Aligning an OAP Mirror

Shear Plate to Align OAP Mirror
Click to Enlarge

Figure 7: When using an OAP mirror to collimate a point source, a shear plate interferometer placed in the output beam can facilitate the alignment process.
Mounting an OAP Mirror
Click to Enlarge

Figure 6: The shape of the OAP mirror's reflective profile matches a section of the parent parabola that is not centered on the focal point. Due to this, the OAP's reflective surface is not rotationally symmetric. When mounting the mirror, care should be taken to ensure the mirror does not rotate around its optical axis.

OAP mirrors are not rotationally symmetric. This is due to their reflective surfaces being taken from sections of the parent parabola curve located away from the focal point (Figure 6).

Due the asymmetry of the reflector, when an OAP mirror rotates, the position of its focal point also rotates. Since this could negatively impact the performance of an optical system, the mirror should be fixed so that the reflective surface cannot rotate around its optical axis.

The optical performance of the mirror is also sensitive to alignment drift with respect to the other five degrees of freedom. One way to protect against alignment drift is to use a fixed, rather than a kinematic, mount.

Using a shear plate interferometer can be helpful when aligning an OAP mirror to an input point source. The shear plate interferometer should intercept the output beam (Figure 7), to assess its collimation quality. Alignment is optimized when the quality of the collimated beam is optimized. 

Date of Last Edit: Dec. 4, 2019


Posted Comments:
Petra Honnerová  (posted 2022-05-31 07:32:17.323)
Dears, I am interested in an uncooled gold-coated off-axis parabolic mirror with an angle of 90°, a diameter of about 50 mm and a focal length of 300 mm. Can you send me an offer? Thank you. Best regards, Petra Dr. Petra Honnerová New Technologies - Research Centre University of West Bohemia Univerzitni 8 301 00 Plzen Czech Republic phone: (+420) 37763 4719 e-mail: petrahon@ntc.zcu.cz web: irt.zcu.cz
jdelia  (posted 2022-06-01 11:46:37.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. We will reach out to you directly regarding the feasibility of this custom part.
Aleksandar Andreski  (posted 2022-05-25 08:30:51.423)
How do you rate the application of these mirror lenses for imaging purposes?
cdolbashian  (posted 2022-06-24 03:48:46.0)
Thank you for reaching out to us with this inquiry. As these components are designed to reflect a collimated beam with minimal chromatic and spherical aberration, these are a potential solution for imaging applications. I have reached out to you directly to discuss this further.
Jaka Mur  (posted 2020-06-02 12:58:42.843)
Dear Sir or Madam, I would like to know if these protected gold parabolic mirrors are suitable for use with 1030 nm (and/or 1064 nm) laser sources when submerged into water. - What happens to reflectivity due to the protective coating/water interface? - Is the coating resistant to water submersion? Best regards, Jaka Mur
nbayconich  (posted 2020-06-02 06:25:04.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. While the coating should remain highly reflective underwater, we do not recommend submerging our coatings.
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Ø1/2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors, Unprotected Gold Coating

MP127P1 Mounted in Mirror Mount
Click to Enlarge

Ø1/2" Gold OAP Mirror in a KS1 Mirror Mount Using an MP127P1 Adapter
Item # Diametera RFLa PFLa Thicknessa Off-Axis
Angle
RWE Mounting
Holesb
MPD00M9-M03 1/2"
(12.7 mm)
15.0 mm
(0.59")
7.5 mm
(0.30")
20.0 mm
(0.79")
90° <λ/4 RMS
at 633 nm
Three
4-40 Taps
on Bottom
MPD019-M03 1/2"
(12.7 mm)
1"
(25.4 mm)
1/2"
(12.7 mm)
0.74"
(18.8 mm)
MPD01M9-M03 1/2"
(12.7 mm)
33.0 mm
(1.30")
16.5 mm
(0.65")
20.0 mm
(0.79")
MPD029-M03 1/2"
(12.7 mm)
2"
(50.8 mm)
1"
(25.4 mm)
0.74"
(18.8 mm)
MPD039-M03 1/2"
(12.7 mm)
3"
(76.2 mm)
1.5"
(38.1 mm)
0.74"
(18.8 mm)

RFL = Reflected Focal Length
PFL = Parent Focal Length
RWE = Reflected Wavefront Error

  • The diagram in the Overview tab defines these quantities.
  • See below for the corresponding mounting adapters.

Care and Handling
The gold layer on unprotected mirrors does not include a protective overcoat. Bare gold does not oxidize in air, but can be easily damaged by fingerprints, aerosols, or the slightest contact with any abrasive material. Unprotected gold mirrors should only be handled when necessary and always held by the sides. Latex gloves or a similar protective covering should be worn to prevent oil from fingers from reaching the surface. No attempt should be made to clean the surface other than blowing off dust with clean, dry air or nitrogen. Any other cleaning method may damage the surface.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
MPD00M9-M03 Support Documentation
MPD00M9-M03Customer Inspired! Ø1/2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 15 mm
$163.92
3 weeks
MPD019-M03 Support Documentation
MPD019-M03Customer Inspired! Ø1/2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 1"
$163.92
Today
MPD01M9-M03 Support Documentation
MPD01M9-M03Customer Inspired! Ø1/2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 33 mm
$163.92
Today
MPD029-M03 Support Documentation
MPD029-M03Customer Inspired! Ø1/2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 2"
$163.92
Today
MPD039-M03 Support Documentation
MPD039-M03Customer Inspired! Ø1/2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 3"
$163.92
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Ø1" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors, Unprotected Gold Coating

Polaris App Image
Click to Enlarge

Ø1" Gold OAP Mirror Directly Mounted in a Previous-Generation Polaris® Kinematic Mirror Mount
Item # Diametera RFLa PFLa Thicknessa Off-Axis
Angle
RWE Mounting
Holesb
MPD119-M03 1"
(25.4 mm)
1"
(25.4 mm)
1/2"
(12.7 mm)
1.25"
(31.7 mm)
90° <λ/2 RMS
at 633 nm
Three
4-40 Taps
on Bottom
MPD129-M03 1"
(25.4 mm)
2"
(50.8 mm)
1"
(25.4 mm)
1.25"
(31.7 mm)
<λ/4 RMS
at 633 nm
MPD139-M03 1"
(25.4 mm)
3"
(76.2 mm)
1.5"
(38.1 mm)
1.25"
(31.7 mm)
MPD149-M03 1"
(25.4 mm)
4"
(101.6 mm)
2"
(50.8 mm)
1.25"
(31.7 mm)
MPD169-M03 1"
(25.4 mm)
6"
(152.4 mm)
3"
(76.2 mm)
1.25"
(31.7 mm)
MPD189-M03 1"
(25.4 mm)
8"
(203.2 mm)
4"
(101.6 mm)
1.25"
(31.7 mm)

RFL = Reflected Focal Length
PFL = Parent Focal Length
RWE = Reflected Wavefront Error

  • The diagram in the Overview tab defines these quantities.
  • See below for the corresponding mounting adapters.

Care and Handling
The gold layer on unprotected mirrors does not include a protective overcoat. Bare gold does not oxidize in air, but can be easily damaged by fingerprints, aerosols, or the slightest contact with any abrasive material. Unprotected gold mirrors should only be handled when necessary and always held by the sides. Latex gloves or a similar protective covering should be worn to prevent oil from fingers from reaching the surface. No attempt should be made to clean the surface other than blowing off dust with clean, dry air or nitrogen. Any other cleaning method may damage the surface.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
MPD119-M03 Support Documentation
MPD119-M03Ø1" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 1"
$230.46
Today
MPD129-M03 Support Documentation
MPD129-M03Customer Inspired! Ø1" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 2"
$230.46
Today
MPD139-M03 Support Documentation
MPD139-M03Ø1" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 3"
$230.46
Today
MPD149-M03 Support Documentation
MPD149-M03Customer Inspired! Ø1" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 4"
$230.46
Today
MPD169-M03 Support Documentation
MPD169-M03Customer Inspired! Ø1" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 6"
$230.46
Today
MPD189-M03 Support Documentation
MPD189-M03Ø1" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 8"
$230.46
Today
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Ø2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors, Unprotected Gold Coating

Parabolic Mirror Mounted to Post Using MP508P2 Adapter
Click to Enlarge

Ø2" Unprotected Gold OAP Mirror Mounted to a Ø1/2" Post Using an MP508P2 Threaded Adapter Plate
Item # Diametera RFLa PFLa Thicknessa Off-Axis
Angle
RWE Mounting
Holesb
MPD229-M03 2"
(50.8 mm)
2"
(50.8 mm)
1"
(25.4 mm)
2.47"
(62.8 mm)
90° <λ/2 RMS
at 633 nm
Three
8-32 Taps
on Bottom
MPD239-M03 2"
(50.8 mm)
3"
(76.2 mm)
1.5"
(38.1 mm)
2.47"
(62.8 mm)
MPD249-M03 2"
(50.8 mm)
4"
(101.6 mm)
2"
(50.8 mm)
2.47"
(62.8 mm)
<λ/4 RMS
at 633 nm
MPD269-M03 2"
(50.8 mm)
6"
(152.4 mm)
3"
(76.2 mm)
2.47"
(62.8 mm)

RFL = Reflected Focal Length
PFL = Parent Focal Length
RWE = Reflected Wavefront Error

  • The diagram in the Overview tab defines these quantities.
  • See below for the corresponding mounting adapters.

Care and Handling
The gold layer on unprotected mirrors does not include a protective overcoat. Bare gold does not oxidize in air, but can be easily damaged by fingerprints, aerosols, or the slightest contact with any abrasive material. Unprotected gold mirrors should only be handled when necessary and always held by the sides. Latex gloves or a similar protective covering should be worn to prevent oil from fingers from reaching the surface. No attempt should be made to clean the surface other than blowing off dust with clean, dry air or nitrogen. Any other cleaning method may damage the surface.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
MPD229-M03 Support Documentation
MPD229-M03Customer Inspired! Ø2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL=2"
$388.47
Today
MPD239-M03 Support Documentation
MPD239-M03Ø2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL=3"
$388.47
Lead Time
MPD249-M03 Support Documentation
MPD249-M03Customer Inspired! Ø2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 4"
$388.47
Today
MPD269-M03 Support Documentation
MPD269-M03Customer Inspired! Ø2" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 6"
$388.47
Lead Time
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Ø3" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprotected Gold Coating

OAP Mirror in Kinematic Mount
Click to Enlarge

MPD399-M03 Directly Mounted in a KS3 Mirror Mount
Item # Diametera RFLa PFLa Thicknessa Off-Axis
Angle
RWE Mounting
Holesb
MPD399-M03 3"
(76.2 mm)
9"
(228.6 mm)
4.50"
(114.3 mm)
3.47"
(88.2 mm)
90° <λ/2 RMS
at 633 nm
Three
8-32 Taps
on Bottom

RFL = Reflected Focal Length
PFL = Parent Focal Length
RWE = Reflected Wavefront Error

  • The diagram in the Overview tab defines these quantities.
  • See below for the corresponding mounting adapters.

Care and Handling
The gold layer on unprotected mirrors does not include a protective overcoat. Bare gold does not oxidize in air, but can be easily damaged by fingerprints, aerosols, or the slightest contact with any abrasive material. Unprotected gold mirrors should only be handled when necessary and always held by the sides. Latex gloves or a similar protective covering should be worn to prevent oil from fingers from reaching the surface. No attempt should be made to clean the surface other than blowing off dust with clean, dry air or nitrogen. Any other cleaning method may damage the surface.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
MPD399-M03 Support Documentation
MPD399-M03Customer Inspired! Ø3" 90° Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror, Unprot. Gold, RFL = 9"
$818.48
Today
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Ø1/2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror Mounting Adapters

OAP Mirror Mounted on a Post Using MP127P2 Adapter
Click to Enlarge

Ø1/2" OAP Mirror Mounted on a Ø1/2" Post Using an MP127P2 Adapter
MP127P1 OAP Mirror Adapter Mounted in Kinematic Mirror Mount
Click to Enlarge

Ø1/2" OAP Mirror in a KS1 Mirror Mount Using an MP127P1 Adapter
OAP Mirror  Mounted in Kinematic Mirror Mount Using SM1MP Adapter
Click to Enlarge

Ø1/2" OAP Mirror Threaded into a KC05-T Cage Mount Using an SM05MP Adapter
  • Contain Three #4 Counterbores and an Alignment Pin for Mounting to Ø1/2" OAP Mirrors
  • SM05MP: Diameter is Externally SM05 Threaded
  • MP127P1: Designed to Fit into Ø1" Mirror Mounts
  • MP127P2(/M): Post Mountable in Four Orientations

Our Mounting Adapters for Ø1/2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors provide mounting alternatives to our smooth bore kinematic mirror mounts. Each contains three #4 counterbores that are positioned to align with the 4-40 tapped holes on our Ø1/2" OAP mirrors. Three 4-40 cap screws and the required 3/32" hex key are provided with each adapter.

SM05MP
The SM05MP OAP Mirror Adapter is externally SM05 threaded (0.535"-40), which allows a Ø1/2" OAP mirror to be directly mounted to an internally SM05-threaded component. The adapter is designed to allow easy adaptability to a 16 mm cage system as well as SM05-threaded mirror, translation, and rotation mounts. The included SM05RR retaining ring secures the adapter in place when it is threaded into a mount. An SPW603 Spanner Wrench can be used to tighten the retaining ring against the OAP mirror housing.

MP127P1
The unthreaded MP127P1 OAP Mirror Adapter is sized to fit inside a Ø1" mirror mount, such as the KS1 Mirror Mount shown above.

MP127P2(/M)
The MP127P2(/M) OAP Mirror Adapter contains four 8-32 (M4) taps for post mounting that orient the OAP mirror at right angles. The distance from the center of the optic to the edge of the mount in the MP127P2 is 1/2" (12.5 mm), allowing for standardized optical axis heights when used with a fixed height post, such as our Ø1" Posts. Please note that the MP127P2(/M) is not compatible with Ø1" mirror mounts, and is instead designed for post mounting.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Imperial Price Available
MP127P2 Support Documentation
MP127P28-32-Threaded Adapter for Ø1/2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$26.73
Today
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
SM05MP Support Documentation
SM05MPExternally SM05-Threaded Adapter for Ø1/2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$27.92
Today
MP127P1 Support Documentation
MP127P11" Outer Diameter Adapter for Ø1/2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$24.23
Today
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Metric Price Available
MP127P2/M Support Documentation
MP127P2/MM4-Threaded Adapter for Ø1/2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$26.73
Today
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Ø1" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror Mount and Mounting Adapters

MP254P2 OAP Mirror Adapter Mounted on Post
Click to Enlarge

Ø1" OAP Mirror Mounted on a Ø1/2" Post Using an
MP254P2 Adapter
Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror Mounted in Mirror Mount Using MP254P1
Click to Enlarge

Ø1" OAP Mirror in a KS2 Mirror Mount Using an
MP254P1 Adapter
SM1MP Adapter Used to Mount an OAP Mirror in a Cage System
Click to Enlarge

Ø1" OAP Mirror Threaded into a CP33 Cage Plate Using an
SM1MP Adapter
  • Contain Three #4 Counterbores and an Alignment Pin for Mounting to Ø1" OAP Mirrors
  • SM1MP: Diameter is Externally SM1 Threaded
  • MP254P1: Designed to Fit into Ø2" Mirror Mounts
  • MP254P2(/M): Post Mountable in Four Orientations
  • KCB1P(/M): Right-Angle Kinematic Mount

Our Kinematic Right-Angle Mount and Mounting Adapters for Ø1" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors provide mounting alternatives to our smooth bore kinematic mirror mounts. Each offers three #4 counterbores that are positioned to align with the 4-40 tapped holes on our Ø1" OAP mirrors.

SM1MP
The SM1MP OAP Mirror Adapter is externally SM1 threaded (1.035"-40) which allows a Ø1" OAP mirror to be directly mounted to an internally SM1-threaded component. The adapter is designed to allow easy adaptability to a 30 mm cage system as well as SM1-threaded mirror, translation, and rotation mounts. The included SM1RR retaining ring secures the adapter in place when it is threaded into a mount. An SPW606 and a SPW909 or SPW801 Spanner Wrench can be used to thread the retaining ring and adapter, respectively. Three 4-40 cap screws and the required 0.05" hex key are provided with each adapter.

MP254P1
The unthreaded MP254P1 OAP Mirror Adapter is sized to fit inside a Ø2" mirror mount, such as the KS2 Mirror Mount shown above. Three 4-40 cap screws and the required 3/32" hex key are provided with each adapter.

MP254P2(/M)
The MP254P2(/M) OAP Mirror Adapter contains four 8-32 (M4) taps for post mounting that orient the OAP mirror at right angles. The distance from the center of the optic to the edge of the mount in the MP254P2 is 1" (25.4 mm), allowing for standardized optical axis heights when used with a fixed height post, such as our Ø1" Posts. Please note that the MP254P2(/M) is not compatible with Ø2" mirror mounts, and is instead designed for post mounting. Three 4-40 cap screws and the required 3/32" hex key are provided with each adapter.


Click to Enlarge

KCB1P Mount is Compatible with 30 mm Cage Systems and SM1 Lens Tubes

Click to Enlarge

KCB1P Mounting Plate and Housing Body Shown with Ø1" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror

KCB1P(/M)
The KCB1P(/M) Right-Angle Kinematic Mount provides ±4° of pitch and yaw adjustment for a Ø1" off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirror mounted on a plate that positions the surface of the mirror at a 45° angle. The ports are SM1 threaded (1.035"-40) for compatibility with our SM1 Lens Tubes and each face has four Ø6 mm smooth bore holes for compatibility with the ER rods for our 30 mm Cage System. The top and bottom of the mount also offer 1/4"-20 (M6) mounting holes for compatibility with Ø1/2" and Ø1" Posts.

The rear-loading, removable mounting plate features our ball and V-groove design that allows it to be precisely kinematically positioned on the body of the mount. The rear-loading design ensures that the optic remains accessible even after the mount is fitted with cage rods or lens tubes.

For more information on KCB1P(/M) Mount, see the full web presentation.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Imperial Price Available
KCB1P Support Documentation
KCB1PCustomer Inspired! Right-Angle Kinematic OAP Mirror Mount, 30 mm Cage System and SM1 Compatible, 1/4"-20 Mounting Holes
$248.21
Today
MP254P2 Support Documentation
MP254P28-32-Threaded Adapter for Ø1" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$32.97
Lead Time
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
SM1MP Support Documentation
SM1MPExternally SM1-Threaded Adapter for Ø1" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$32.97
Today
MP254P1 Support Documentation
MP254P12" Outer Diameter Adapter for Ø1" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$30.28
Today
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Metric Price Available
KCB1P/M Support Documentation
KCB1P/MCustomer Inspired! Right-Angle Kinematic OAP Mirror Mount, 30 mm Cage System and SM1 Compatible, M6 Mounting Holes
$248.21
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MP254P2/M Support Documentation
MP254P2/MM4-Threaded Adapter for Ø1" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$32.97
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Ø2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror Mounting Adapters

Off-Axis Parabolic Mounted on Post using MP508P2 Adapter
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Ø2" OAP Mirror with Hole Parallel to Focused Beam Mounted on a Ø1/2" Post
Using an MP508P2 Adapter
OAP Mirror with MP254P1 Adapter Mounted in Kinematic Mirror Mount
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Ø2" OAP Mirror in KS3 Mirror Mount Using an
MP508P1 Adapter
OAP Mirror Mounted in Cage System using SM2MP Adapter
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Ø2" OAP Mirror Threaded into a KC2T Cage Mount Using an
SM2MP Adapter
  • Contain Three #8 Counterbores and an Alignment Pin for Mounting to Ø2" OAP Mirrors
  • SM2MP: Diameter is Externally SM2 Threaded
  • MP508P1: Designed to Fit into Ø3" Mirror Mounts
  • MP508P2(/M): Post Mountable in Four Orientations

Our Mounting Adapters for Ø2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors provide mounting alternatives to our smooth bore kinematic mirror mounts. Each contains three #8 counterbores that are positioned to align with the 8-32 tapped holes on our Ø2" OAP Mirrors. Please note that these adapters will block the through holes on OAP Mirrors with holes parallel to the collimated beam. Our smooth bore mounting adapters can be used to mount these parts.

SM2MP
The SM2MP OAP Mirror Adapter is externally SM2 threaded (2.035"-40), which allows a Ø2" OAP mirror to be directly mounted to an internally SM2-threaded component. The adapter is designed to allow easy adaptability to a 60 mm cage system as well as SM2-threaded mirror, translation, and rotation mounts. The included SM2RR retaining ring secures the adapter in place when it is threaded into a mount. An SPW604 and SPW801 Spanner Wrench can be used to thread the retaining ring and adapter, respectively. Three low profile 8-32 cap screws and the required 5/64" hex key are provided with each adapter.

MP508P1
The unthreaded MP508P1 OAP Mirror Adapter is sized to fit inside a Ø3" mirror mount, such as the KS3 Mirror Mount shown above. Three standard 8-32 cap screws and the required 9/64" hex key are provided with each adapter.

MP508P2(/M)
The MP508P2(/M) OAP Mirror Adapter contains four 8-32 (M4) taps, for post mounting, that orient the OAP mirror at right angles. The distance from the center of the optic to the edge of the mount in the MP508P2 is 1.5" (38.1 mm), allowing for standardized optical axis heights when used with a fixed height post, such as our Ø1" Posts. Please note that the MP508P2(/M) is not compatible with Ø3" mirror mounts, and is instead designed for post mounting. Three standard 8-32 cap screws and the required 9/64" hex key are provided with each adapter.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
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MP508P2 Support Documentation
MP508P28-32-Threaded Adapter for Ø2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$38.91
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SM2MP Support Documentation
SM2MPExternally SM2-Threaded Adapter for Ø2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$41.29
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MP508P1 Support Documentation
MP508P13" Outer Diameter Adapter for Ø2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$36.54
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MP508P2/M Support Documentation
MP508P2/MM4-Threaded Adapter for Ø2" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
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Ø3" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror Mounting Adapter

SM1A7 alignment target mounted in SM2MP3 OAP Mirror Adapter
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Rear View of the SM2MP3 Adapter with an SM1A7 Alignment Target Mounted in the SM1-Threaded Bore
OAP Mirror mounted on a post using SM2MP Adapter
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MPD369V-M01 Ø3" OAP Mirror Mounted on a Ø1" Post Using an SM2MP3 Adapter
Off-axis parabolic Mirror Mounted on 6-axis mount using SM2MP Adapter
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Ø3" OAP Mirror Threaded into a K6X2 6-Axis Locking Kinematic Mount Using an SM2MP3 Adapter
  • Contains Three 8-32 Captive Screws and an Alignment Dowel for Mounting to Ø3" OAP Mirrors
  • External SM2 Threading for Mounting in Ø2" Mirror Mounts
  • Post Mountable in Four Orientations
  • Center Hole for Through Beams Parallel to Collimated Beams
  • Internal SM1-Threaded Bore for Mounting Alignments Targets

The SM2MP3 Mounting Adapter for Ø3" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors offers a mounting alternative to our smooth bore kinematic mirror mounts. External SM2 threading (2.035"-40) provides a mechanically stable option for mounting Ø3" OAP mirrors into an internally SM2-threaded component. Two holes spaced 1.5" apart on the back can be used to secure the adapter with an SPW801 adjustable spanner wrench. The SM2MP3 adapter also contains four 8-32 taps, for post mounting, that orient the OAP mirror at right angles. Thorlabs offers a selection of screw thread adapters, including the AP8E4M 8-32 to M4 thread adapter, which can be used to mount the SM2MP3 adapter onto M4-threaded posts.

This adapter contains three 8-32 captive screws that are positioned to align with the 8-32 tapped holes on our Ø3" OAP mirrors. Captive screws can be secured with a 5/64" (2 mm) hex key (not included). The SM2MP3 adapter also features a radial alignment slot for use with the included dowel pin to assist when mounting to a mirror. A Ø0.16" (Ø4 mm) through hole at the center of the SM2MP3 adapter provides passage for a through beam parallel to the collimated beam. The back side features an internal SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) bore for mounting externally SM1-threaded alignment tools, such as the SM1A7 alignment disk pictured above to the far right.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Imperial Price Available
SM2MP3 Support Documentation
SM2MP3Customer Inspired! Externally SM2-Threaded Adapter for Ø3" Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors
$77.95
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