Optics for Laser Fusion Energy
What can OPTOMAN
do for the fusion energy sector?
High-power, large-diameter laser optics designed to meet the demands of fusion energy research
Optical Damage & Laser-Induced Damage (LID)
Fusion lasers like those at National Ignition Facility (NIF) often generate pulses in the petawatt range. These intense laser pulses cause gradual or sudden damage to optics, limiting the system’s lifetime and performance.
OPTOMAN is driven by constantly increasing laser powers, developing and manufacturing laser optics that are not the bottleneck in high power laser systems.
Low Absorption
Absorption is the primary driver of coating degradation, which significantly lowers the lifetime of laser optics.
OPTOMAN developed low-absorption optics to address this challenge. By reducing absorption down to sub ppm levels, our optics minimise heat generation. This innovation ensures optical system stability and no unwanted spectral shifts.
Large Aperture Requirements in Fusion Lasers
High-power lasers often require large-diameter optics to effectively focus and direct the intense laser energy needed for fusion reactions.
OPTOMAN has one of the largest IBS chambers in the world and is capable of manufacturing laser optics up to
⌀ 420mm.
*Diameter up to 600mm is under development.
FAQ
What sets OPTOMAN apart in the fusion energy sector?
Our commitment to application-optimised, highly customised solutions, combined with customer centric business approach and collaborative development, positions us as a reliable partner in fusion energy research.
Why is Ion-Beam Sputtering (IBS) technology crucial for fusion optics?
IBS provides coatings with bulk-like density, minimal scattering, and high resistance to laser-induced damage, all critical for the demanding environments of fusion applications.
How does OPTOMAN ensure its optics meet the specific needs of fusion energy projects?
We engage deeply with each project, tailoring our solutions to meet specific requirements, whether it’s achieving fundamental research milestones or developing scalable industrial applications.
Is it possible to test the optics, and how scalable is the production?
Yes. Based on the customer’s presented business case, OPTOMAN, with its R&D-driven attitude and collaborative approach, can design, develop, and manufacture products for testing purposes and present a plan for serial production. Different-size IBS coating chambers are very handy in this case because small-scale production can be easily transferred to our giant IBS machine – Albert (the atom smasher), where we can coat large optics or 400-500 units of 1“ laser optics in a single coating run, ensuring high uniformity, meaning that all mirrors will work the same making your laser systems highly repeatable and reliable too.
Moreover, our in-stock optics marketplace, OPTOSHOP, features over 400 different laser optics made with love by OPTOMAN. These optics can be provided for testing directly from stock and delivered in 1-3 business days. After successful tests, OPTOMAN can present the most optimal production plan matching your business needs.
We are in the R&D phase; could OPTOMAN help at this stage?
We consider ourselves trailblazers of IBS-based optics manufacturing. We are eager to innovate in the field, so your RnD challenges are our best tasks. The passion for creating something new and our team’s satisfaction from seeing the solutions implemented are huge rewards. We have versatile manufacturing equipment suitable for prototyping and, later on, scalable mass production of thousands of units per day.
Capabilities
Repetability
OPTOMAN understands the importance of repeatability and quality control, has many metrology processes, and ensures that optics work as promised. Read more in tech note about repeatability and check OPTOMAN metrology capabilities.
Lifetime
OPTOMAN is invested in prolonging the lifetime of optics that, at certain wavelengths, can be backed up with lifetime measurements. Such development would help to make your lasers more reliable.
LIDT
OPTOMAN’s coatings can withstand extremely powerful laser beams, with a threshold exceeding >1 J/cm² @ 1030nm, 500fs and >168 J/cm² @ 1064nm, 10ns for HR coatings. This makes them suitable for high-power laser systems. Check LIDT measurements of OPTOMAN optics.
Large optics
The capability of manufacturing large optics is paramount for laser fusion reactors. OPTOMAN has one of the largest IBS chambers in the world and is capable of manufacturing laser optics up to ⌀420 mm. *Diameter up to 600mm is under development.
Application optimised products
High LIDT Low GDD Multiwavelength mirror for Yb:YAG I and II harmonics.
- Long lifetime
- High LIDT coatings featuring high reflectivity up to 99.99%
- Highly customised and application optimised solutions
Design example
Coating specifications:
HRsp>99.9% @ 1030 nm & HRsp>99.9% @ 515 nm, AOI=45°
|GDD Rs|<10 fs², |GDD Rp|<20 fs² @ 1030 nm & 515 nm, AOI=45°
Multiwavelength laser mirror designed for Nd:YAG I and II harmonics.
- High LIDT and low absorption coatings
- High reflectivity at several wavelengths or bandwidths
- Highly customised and application optimised solutions
Design example
Coating specifications:
HRsp > 99.8% @ 1064nm + 532nm, AOI=45°
High LIDT mirror designed for Nd:YAG III harmonic.
- Higher longevity laser optics due to low absorption and low surface roughness
- High LIDT coatings featuring high reflectivity up to 99.9%
- Highly customised and application optimised solutions
Design example
Coating specifications:
Rs > 99.9% & HRp>99.8% @ 355nm, AOI=45°
Superhero Power high LIDT mirror for Yb:YAG I harmonic.
- Long lifetime due to no color change mode of Laser-Induced Damage
- High LIDT coatings featuring high reflectivity up to 99.99%
- Highly customised and application optimised solutions
Design example
Coating specifications:
HRs>99.95% & HRp>99.9%@1010 – 1050 nm, AOI=45°
|GDD Rs|<10 fs², |GDD Rp|<20 fs²
Low absorption wide-angle mirror for Nd:YAG I harmonic.
- Long lifetime laser optics
- Ultra-low-loss mirrors featuring low absorption
- High LIDT coatings featuring high reflectivity up to 99.99%
- Highly customised and application optimised solutions
Design example
Coating specifications:
HRa>99.9% @ 1064nm, AOI=40 – 50°
Certification
Here's what
our clients say
"We are very satisfied with the quality of OPTOMAN's mirrors. After months and even years of use there is no sign of coating degradation, which is a sign of their good work. In addition to this, we also highly appreciate their eagerness to develop custom coatings for us, the clarity and accuracy of their communications, and the high speed in processing our requests. Definitely, OPTOMAN is one of our main mirror suppliers."
Dr. Juan B. Gonzalez-Diaz, Laser Engineer at DESY
"OPTOMAN’s 0-45° mirrors ULLM19 and dual-wavelength ultrafast mirrors (1030+515 nm) have been extremely useful to our work. Both products deliver exceptional performance and quality!"
Anne-Lise Viotti, Assistant Professor at Lund University
"OPTOMAN's expertise and reactivity have made them our trusted partner for developing dispersion-controlled optics at unique wavelengths."
Clement Ferchaud, Extreme Light Consortium, Imperial College London, UK
"The OPTOMAN optics perform excellently in facilitating high-power, high-energy, and ultrafast Yb lasers, which provides a strong foundation for its application in high flux EUV generation and attosecond spectroscopy."
Xiaochun Gong, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, China
Laser engineers from fusion research companies appreciate OPTOMAN's transparency and reliability the most.
Many new scientific segment customers come to OPTOMAN because of peers' recommendations, as 9/10 customers would recommend OPTOMAN to colleagues.
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