Diamond Turned Composite Optics

The demands for lighter, lower cost optics for space and aircraft are constantly increasing. These demands are being driven by the costs associated with launching in spacecraft or costs associated with flying bulky payloads in aircraft. The payload weight factors into these costs. These demands must be met while maintaining or improving the performance of the optical system. It is proposed that a mirror constructed with metal coated carbon fiber reinforced cyanate ester facesheets and lightweight core can meet all of these requirements. The facesheets and core must be designed using very high modulus, thin facesheets, and a stable and uniform core structure. It will be demonstrated that a thin metallic coating on a composite face sheet and a lightweight core structure can be diamond turned to a figure of ¿ wave @.6328 microns or better while weighing less than 7 kg/m2 and remain stable over a wide temperature range.