Super-polished Freeforms Optical Systems (SFOS) for industry and nuclear fusion

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This Proposal confronts manufacturing challenges that constrict the on-going revolution in complex ('freeform') optical surfaces, these promising radical performance-improvements, yet with fewer components. We focus primarily on resolving the lack of worldwide capability for nano-scale-accurate, super-smooth freeforms that i) can survive high laser-powers, and ii) meet emerging challenges in other applications, especially next-generation semiconductor photolithography. We take laser-fusion (US National Ignition Facility, NIF) as an example, the technology promising almost limitless energy, but requiring gross simplification -- one of the keys is free-form optics. The project thereby confronts key societal needs incl. sustainable manufacture, Big Data and 'green' energy. Our industry/research consortium has the expertise and facilities to tackle this head on, developing a unique commercial manufacturing solution. After IP protection, project outputs will then be widely disseminated. In doing so, our ambitions are to: (i) capture 4% ($2.4Bn) of the global optimal manufacturing and services market that will need to move to freeforms in the next 5 years, and (ii) establish a new supply chain opportunity for 7000 UK companies and (iii) create a new, globally competitive innovation ecosystem for optical freeform design and manufacture in the United Kingdom.