Cylindrical Polishing Technology Development Program.
Abstract
Cylindrical optical figures are needed for high energy laser (HEL) mirrors constructed of molybdenum material. The subject program determined the state-of-the-art for polishing molybdenum to cylindrical optical figures and advanced the technology within funding limits. Cylindrical optical figures of lambda/2 (lambda approx 0.5 micrometer) quality were determined to be state-of-the-art at PWA-FRDC during the early stages of the program, but this quality was subsequently improved to lambda/4. It proved to be impractical, if not impossible, to establish quantitative effects of the process variables, or to relate the process to spherical polishing technology. Of the several inspection techniques investigated, the glass test plate/monochromatic light interferometer and the noncontact slit interferometer (described in the text) appeared to be the best available techniques to ensure figure quality specifications are met. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 31, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADA034680
Entities
People
- Thomas B. Milam
Organizations
- Pratt & Whitney