Elliptical Mirrors


  • Circular Aperture at 45°
  • 1/2", 1", or 2" Effective Diameter
  • Metallic or Broadband Dielectric Coating

PFE20-M01

2", Protected Gold

BBE05-E03

1/2", E03 Broadband
Dielectric

PFE10-P01

1", Protected Silver

Application Idea

Elliptical Mirror in
Right-Angle Mount

Related Items


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Elliptical Mirror
Note: In the item descriptions below, the specified mirror dimension is the minor axis of the ellipse. When the mirror is at 45°, this dimension will effectively be the outside diameter of the optic.
H45E1 KM100 ApplicationClick to Enlarge
H45E2 Holding a 2" Elliptical Mirror

Features

  • Circular 1/2", 1", or 2" Aperture at 45°
  • Metallic or Broadband Dielectric Coatings
    • Broadband Dielectric: 400 - 750 nm (-E02) or 750 - 1100 nm (-E03) Coating
    • Metallic: Protected Aluminum, Protected Silver, Ultrafast-Enhanced Silver, or Protected Gold
  • Plano Mirrors with UV Fused Silica or Fused Silica Substrates

Thorlabs' elliptical mirrors feature a coated face on an elliptical UV fused silica substrate or an elliptical fused silica substrate. When the mirror is rotated by 45° about the minor axis, the resulting clear aperture is circular, as shown in the lower right schematic.

Mounting Options
To mount these mirrors, we suggest our Fixed 45° or Kinematic Elliptical Mirror Mounts. Our fixed 45° mounts are compatible with 1" or 2" elliptical mirrors. They can be post mounted or secured in an unthreaded, standard kinematic mirror mount. An example of an elliptical mirror mounted in a H45E2 45° Elliptical Optics Mount is shown to the right.

Our kinematic mounts are compatible with 1/2", 1", or 2" Elliptical Mirrors. These mounts provide compatibility with our Cage Systems and SM Series Lens Tubes, giving access to a variety of optomechanical construction standards. The photograph at the top right of this page shows a 1" Protected Gold Elliptical Mirror in the KCB1E(/M) Right-Angle Kinematic Mount.

Optical Coatings and Substrates
Optic Cleaning Tutorial
Elliptical Mirror Schematic
When elliptical mirrors are oriented at a 45° incident angle, the clear aperture is circular.
Elliptical MirrorElliptical Mirror Schematic

A schematic of an elliptical mirror is shown to the right. The minor axis is the shorter dimension of the ellipse, while the major axis is the longer axis. When the mirror is turned 45° about the minor axis, the clear aperture of the mirror will be circular, as shown below:

Item # Prefix BBE05a PFE05b BBE1a PFE10b UME1c BBE2a PFE20b
Minor Axis 1/2" (12.7 mm) 1" (25.4 mm) 2" (50.8 mm)
Major Axis 0.71" (18.0 mm) 1.41" (35.9 mm) 2.83" (71.8 mm)
Diameter Tolerance +0.0/-0.1 mm ±0.1 mm +0.0/-0.1 mm ±0.1 mm +0.0/-0.1 mm +0.0/-0.1 mm ±0.1 mm
Thickness 6.0 mm (0.24") 6.0 mm (0.24") 12.0 mm (0.47")
Thickness Tolerance ±0.2 mm ±0.2 mm ±0.2 mm
Circular Clear
Aperture
>Ø10.8 mm >Ø11.4 mm >Ø21.6 mm >Ø22.9 mm >Ø43.2 mm >Ø45.7 mm
Parallelism <5 arcmin <3 arcmin <5 arcmin <5 arcmin
Substrate UV Fused Silicad Fused Silica UV Fused Silicad
Back Surface Fine Ground
Front Surface Flatness λ/10 at 633 nm (Peak to Valley)
Surface Quality 40-20 Scratch-Dig
  • Available with -E02 or -E03 Dielectric Coating
  • Available with Protected Aluminum, Protected Silver, or Protected Gold Metallic Coating
  • Available with Ultrafast-Enhanced Silver Metallic Coating
  • Click Link for Detailed Specifications on the Substrate
Coating Specifications
Item #
Suffix
Coating
Type
Reflectance
(45° AOI)
Group Delay
Dispersion
Damage Threshold
Pulsed CWa,b
-E02 Broadband Dielectric Ravg > 99% from 400 nm to 750 nm - 0.25 J/cm2 (532 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.803 mm) 550 W/cm (532 nm, Ø1.000 mm)
-E03 Broadband Dielectric Ravg > 99% from 750 nm to 1100 nm - 0.205 J/cm2 (800 nm, 99 fs, 1 kHz, Ø0.166 mm)
1 J/cm2 (810 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.133 mm)
0.5 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.433 mm)
10 kW/cm (1070 nm, Ø0.971 mm)
-G01 Protected Aluminum Ravg > 90% from 450 nm to 2 µm,
Ravg > 95% from 2 µm to 20 µm
- 0.3 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø1.000 mm) 100 W/cm (1.070 µm, Ø0.098 mm)
350 W/cm (10.6 µm, Ø0.339 mm)
-P01 Protected Silver Ravg > 97% from 450 nm to 2 µm,
Ravg > 95% from 2 µm to 20 µm
- 0.225 J/cm2 (800 nm, 99 fs, 1 kHz, Ø0.167 mm)
1 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø1.010 mm)
500 W/cm (1.07 µm, Ø0.974 mm)
1500 W/cm (10.6 µm, Ø0.339 mm)
-AGc Ultra-Fast Enhanced Silver Rs > 99.0% and Rp > 98.5%
from 750 nm to 1 µm
|GDDs| < 20 fs2
|GDDp| < 30 fs2
0.39 J/cm2 (800 nm, 52 fs FWHM, S-Pol, 1 Pulse)
0.18 J/cm2 (800 nm, 52 fs FWHM, S-Pol, 1000 Pulses)
-
-M01 Protected Gold Ravg > 96% from 800 nm to 20 µm - 2 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø1.000 mm) 500 W/cm (1.070 µm, Ø0.089 mm)
750 W/cm (10.6 µm, Ø0.339 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 Damage Thresholds tab.
  • For -E02 and -E03 coatings, stated damage threshold is a certification measurement, as opposed to a true damage threshold (i.e., the optic was able to withstand the maximum output of the laser with no damage).
  • Only available on a 1" elliptical substrate.

Dielectric Mirror Coatings

These plots show the reflectance of our -E02 (400 - 750 nm) and -E03 (750 - 1100 nm) dielectric coatings for a typical coating run. The shaded region in each graph denotes the spectral range over which the coating is highly reflective. Due to variations in each run, this recommended spectral range is narrower than the actual range over which the optic will be highly reflective. If you have any concerns about the interpretation of this data, please contact Tech Support. For applications that require a mirror that bridges the spectral range between the dielectric coatings, please consider a metallic mirror.

-E02 Coating (400 - 750 nm)

Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for -E02 Coating, 8° and 45° AOI

-E03 Coating (750 - 1100 nm)

Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for -E03 Coating, 6° and 45° AOI

 

Metallic Mirror Coatings

The shaded regions in the graphs denote the ranges over which we recommend using these optics. Please note that the reflectance outside of these bands is not as rigorously monitored in quality control, and can vary from lot to lot, especially in out-of-band regions where the reflectance is fluctuating or sloped.

Protected Aluminum Coating (450 nm - 20 µm)

Protected Aluminum at Near-Normal Incident Angle
Click to Enlarge

Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for Protected Aluminum
Protected Aluminum at 45 Degree Incident Angle
Click to Enlarge

Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for Protected Aluminum

Protected Silver Coating (450 nm - 20 µm)

Protected Silver at Near-Normal Incident Angle
Click to Enlarge

Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for Protected Silver
Protected Silver at 45 Degree Incident Angle
Click to Enlarge

Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for Protected Silver

Ultrafast-Enhanced Silver Coating (750 nm - 1 µm)

Protected Gold at Near-Normal Incident Angle
Click to Enlarge

Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for Ultrafast-Enhanced Silver

Protected Gold Coating (800 nm - 20 µm)

Ultrafast-Enhanced Silver
Click to Enlarge

Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for Protected Gold
Protected Gold at 45 Degree Incident Angle
Click to Enlarge

Excel Spreadsheet with Raw Data for Protected Gold
Damage Threshold Specifications
Coating Designation
(Item # Suffix)
Damage Threshold
-E02 Pulsed 0.25 J/cm2 (532 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.803 mm)
CWa,b 550 W/cm (532 nm, Ø1.000 mm)
-E03 Pulsed 0.205 J/cm2 (800 nm, 99 fs, 1 kHz, Ø0.166 mm)
1 J/cm2 (810 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.133 mm)
0.5 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø0.433 mm)
CWa,b 10 kW/cm (1070 nm, Ø0.971 mm)
-G01 Pulsed 0.3 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø1.000 mm)
CWa 100 W/cm (1.070 µm, Ø0.098 mm)
350 W/cm (10.6 µm, Ø0.339 mm)
-P01 Pulsed 0.225 J/cm2 (800 nm, 99 fs, 1 kHz, Ø0.167 mm)
1 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø1.010 mm)
CWa 500 W/cm (1.07 µm, Ø0.974 mm)
1500 W/cm (10.6 µm, Ø0.339 mm)
-AG Pulsed 0.39 J/cm2 (800 nm, 52 fs FWHM, S-Pol, 1 Pulse)
0.18 J/cm2 (800 nm, 52 fs FWHM, S-Pol, 1000 Pulses)
-M01 Pulsed 2 J/cm2 (1064 nm, 10 ns, 10 Hz, Ø1.000 mm)
CWa 500 W/cm (1.070 µm, Ø0.089 mm)
750 W/cm (10.6 µm, Ø0.339 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.
  • The stated damage threshold is a certification measurement, as opposed to a true damage threshold (i.e., the optic was able to withstand the maximum output of the laser with no damage).

Damage Threshold Data for Thorlabs' Elliptical Mirrors

The specifications to the right are measured data for Thorlabs' elliptical mirrors. Damage threshold specifications are constant for a given coating type, regardless of the size 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.


Posted Comments:
Oleksandr Srtilets  (posted 2022-05-09 16:47:44.9)
Hello, Is it possible to cut from the already done laser mirror elliptical mirror ? We need to have elliptical mirror with R>99% and damage threshold more than 10 j/cm2, 1064 nm as in standart laser mirror.
marcel.prayogo  (posted 2018-12-26 21:50:36.723)
I would like to know what the mass (g or kg) for PFE20-P01 is.
YLohia  (posted 2018-12-27 08:50:58.0)
Hello, the mass of this item is approximately 76 g, as given in the engineering drawing: https://www.thorlabs.com/_sd.cfm?fileName=21550-E0W.pdf&partNumber=PFE20-P01
h.wu  (posted 2018-03-29 12:44:41.67)
Are the elliptical mirror blanks (economy optical flats) available?
YLohia  (posted 2018-03-30 05:21:50.0)
Hello, thank you for contacting Thorlabs. Unfortunately, we currently do not stock elliptical mirror blanks. We will reach out to you directly to get your requirements in order to look into the possibility of offering custom blanks.
david.vogt  (posted 2017-12-19 10:07:43.797)
It would be very helpful if there was an elliptical mirror with UV-enhanced aluminum. Is that in any way possible or is there a limitation that I am not aware of? We would also be interested in a custom solution.
nbayconich  (posted 2017-12-19 10:58:07.0)
Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. We can provide elliptical mirrors with UV-enhanced aluminum coating as a custom request. I will reach out to you directly with more information about our custom capabilities.
user  (posted 2016-05-15 15:14:02.457)
The BBE2-E02 mirror is missing on the website. I can find it through search but it is not under the elliptical mirror page!
besembeson  (posted 2016-05-18 09:48:50.0)
Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: We are working on making these available in a couple of weeks.
user  (posted 2015-08-07 12:14:19.597)
Do you have any plans to offer an E01 coated 2" elliptical mirror?
besembeson  (posted 2015-09-24 09:53:57.0)
Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: Not yet. We only provide this as a special item for now.
bdada  (posted 2011-04-21 16:55:00.0)
Response from Buki at Thorlabs: Thank you for using our Feedback Tool. We often provide custom sized optics and will contact you directly to discuss a custom sized elliptical mirror for your application.
shshim  (posted 2011-04-21 13:42:11.0)
Is it possible to make a custom-size elliptical mirror whose diameter is between 1/2" and 1"??
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E02 Broadband Dielectric-Coated Elliptical Mirror

E02 broadband dielectric coated mirrors offer high reflectance in the visible range (400 - 750 nm). Although broadband dielectric coatings offer smaller operating wavelength ranges than metallic coatings, they typically yield higher reflectance in those ranges than their metallic counterparts.

The plot to the right shows the measured reflectance of our E02 coating as a function of wavelength. The shaded region is the 400 - 750 nm spectral range. Data was obtained at a 45° angle of incidence.

Please click here for an Excel spreadsheet containing the raw data used to make the graph to the right.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
BBE05-E02 Support Documentation
BBE05-E021/2" Broadband Dielectric Elliptical Mirror, 400 - 750 nm
$91.08
Today
BBE1-E02 Support Documentation
BBE1-E021" Broadband Dielectric Elliptical Mirror, 400 - 750 nm
$130.40
Today
BBE2-E02 Support Documentation
BBE2-E022" Broadband Dielectric Elliptical Mirror, 400 - 750 nm
$250.18
Today
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E03 Broadband Dielectric-Coated Elliptical Mirrors

E03 broadband dielectric coated mirrors offer high reflectance in the NIR range (750 - 1100 nm). Although broadband dielectric coatings offer smaller operating wavelength ranges than metallic coatings, they typically yield higher reflectance in those ranges than their metallic counterparts.

The plot to the right shows the measured reflectance of our E03 coating as a function of wavelength. The shaded region is the 750 - 1100 nm spectral range. Data was obtained at a 45° angle of incidence.

Please click here for an Excel spreadsheet containing the raw data used to make the graph to the right.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
BBE05-E03 Support Documentation
BBE05-E031/2" Broadband Dielectric Elliptical Mirror, 750 - 1100 nm
$91.08
Today
BBE1-E03 Support Documentation
BBE1-E031" Broadband Dielectric Elliptical Mirror, 750 - 1100 nm
$130.40
Today
BBE2-E03 Support Documentation
BBE2-E032" Broadband Dielectric Elliptical Mirror, 750 - 1100 nm
$224.51
Today
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Protected Aluminum-Coated Elliptical Mirrors

Protected-aluminum-coated mirrors are a good option for many general broadband applications. An SiO2 coating is used to protect the delicate aluminum coating, making it suitable for laboratory and industrial use. The protected aluminum coating has a smaller chance of tarnishing than protected silver in a high humidity environment, and gives a reflectance that most closely matches the reflectance of a bare aluminum coating. These mirrors have an average reflectance greater than 90% from 450 nm to 2 µm and greater than 95% over their 2 - 20 µm spectral range.

The plot to the right shows the measured reflectance of protected aluminum as a function of wavelength in micrometers. The shaded region is the 450 nm - 20 µm spectral range. Data was obtained using unpolarized light at 45° incidence. Please click here for an Excel spreadsheet containing the raw data used to make the graph to the right.

As shown in the image to the left, there are two areas along the minor axis of the ellipse that are not coated. These tooling marks are part of the manufacturing process and do not infringe upon the clear aperture of the mirror (see Specs tab for details).

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
PFE05-G01 Support Documentation
PFE05-G011/2" Protected Aluminum Elliptical Mirror, 450 nm - 20 µm
$61.20
Today
PFE10-G01 Support Documentation
PFE10-G011" Protected Aluminum Elliptical Mirror, 450 nm - 20 µm
$84.83
Today
PFE20-G01 Support Documentation
PFE20-G012" Protected Aluminum Elliptical Mirror, 450 nm - 20 µm
$175.24
7-10 Days
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Protected Silver-Coated Elliptical Mirrors

Silver-coated mirrors have the highest reflectance of all metal-coated mirrors in the visible wavelength range. Silver offers high reflectance from 450 nm to 20 µm. In order to protect the mirrors from oxidation, they have an overcoat of SiO2. Though the overcoat helps to protect silver from tarnishing, high humidity environments should be avoided.

The plot to the right shows the measured reflectance of protected silver as a function of wavelength. The shaded region is the 450 nm - 20 µm spectral range. Data was obtained using unpolarized light at 45° incidence. Please click here for an Excel spreadsheet containing the raw data used to make the graph to the right.

As shown in the image to the left, there are two areas along the minor axis of the ellipse that are not coated. These tooling marks are part of the manufacturing process and do not infringe upon the clear aperture of the mirror (see Specs tab for details).

Care and Handling
Silver coated mirrors require additional care due to their susceptibility to damage from environmental conditions and improper handling. Fingerprints, contact with abrasive surfaces, and environments with high humidity or temperature will diminish the effectiveness of the protective overcoat leaving the silver coating susceptible to oxidation and degradation. When working with silver mirrors, follow standard practices for handling optics. Latex gloves or similar protective coverings are recommended to prevent oil and other residues on the user’s fingers from reaching the optical surface. Even with such precautions, care should be taken not to touch the mirrored face or edges. Silver mirrors should be used and stored in areas at room temperature with minimal humidity. For information on how to clean mirrors and other optics, visit our Optic Cleaning Tutorial.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
PFE05-P01 Support Documentation
PFE05-P011/2" Protected Silver Elliptical Mirror, 450 nm - 20 µm
$58.08
Today
PFE10-P01 Support Documentation
PFE10-P011" Protected Silver Elliptical Mirror, 450 nm - 20 µm
$87.98
7-10 Days
PFE20-P01 Support Documentation
PFE20-P012" Protected Silver Elliptical Mirror, 450 nm - 20 µm
$183.58
Today
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Ultrafast-Enhanced Silver-Coated Elliptical Mirror

Compared to our low-GDD dielectric mirrors for 700 - 930 nm, this enhanced silver mirror offers similar GDD, a slightly wider reflectance range, and a slightly lower reflectance value.

The plot to the right shows the measured reflectance of ultrafast-enhanced silver as a function of wavelength. The shaded region is the 750 nm - 1000 nm spectral range. Data was obtained using p-polarized and s-polarized light at 45° incidence. Please click here for an Excel spreadsheet containing the raw data used to make the graph to the right.

As shown in the image to the left, there are two areas along the minor axis of the ellipse that are not coated. These tooling marks are part of the manufacturing process and do not infringe upon the clear aperture of the mirror (see Specs tab for details).

Care and Handling
Silver coated mirrors require additional care due to their susceptibility to damage from environmental conditions and improper handling. Fingerprints, contact with abrasive surfaces, and environments with high humidity or temperature will diminish the effectiveness of the protective overcoat leaving the silver coating susceptible to oxidation and degradation. When working with silver mirrors, follow standard practices for handling optics. Latex gloves or similar protective coverings are recommended to prevent oil and other residues on the user’s fingers from reaching the optical surface. Even with such precautions, care should be taken not to touch the mirrored face or edges. Silver mirrors should be used and stored in areas at room temperature with minimal humidity. For information on how to clean mirrors and other optics, visit our Optic Cleaning Tutorial.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
UME1-AG Support Documentation
UME1-AG1'' Ultrafast-Enhanced Silver Elliptical Mirror, 750 nm - 1 µm
$136.23
Today
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Protected Gold-Coated Elliptical Mirrors

Protected gold coatings are ideal for use over the entire IR range, with an average reflectance in excess of 96% for 800 nm - 20 µm. A protective SiO2 overcoat is layered over the gold to make it damage resistant and easy to clean.

The plot to the right shows the measured reflectance of protected gold as a function of wavelength. The shaded region is the 800 nm - 20 µm spectral range. Data was obtained using unpolarized light at 45° incidence. Please click here for an Excel spreadsheet containing the raw data used to make the graph to the right.

As shown in the image to the left, there are two areas along the minor axis of the ellipse that are not coated. These tooling marks are part of the manufacturing process and do not infringe upon the clear aperture of the mirror (see Specs tab for details).

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey  
+1 Qty Docs Part Number - Universal Price Available
PFE05-M01 Support Documentation
PFE05-M011/2" Protected Gold Elliptical Mirror, 800 nm - 20 µm
$58.08
Today
PFE10-M01 Support Documentation
PFE10-M011" Protected Gold Elliptical Mirror, 800 nm - 20 µm
$93.88
Today
PFE20-M01 Support Documentation
PFE20-M012" Protected Gold Elliptical Mirror, 800 nm - 20 µm
$184.97
7-10 Days