Automated, Rapid Fabrication of Complex Optical Components

本文主要研究了离子束成形技术在非球面光学元件制造中的应用。IBF将用于消除球差和散焦。这将通过几个步骤来完成。首先使用相位测量干涉法获得元件的光学图。这将通过一种待开发的恢复算法进行处理，以确定离子束源在衬底前方每个位置停留的时间。然后将执行IBF以制作非球面元件。这种方法将消除非球面光学制造过程中大量的不确定性，这些不确定性现在几乎完全取决于操作人员的技能。由于这些类型的光学器件在光学仪器中普遍存在，因此本研究将对提高光学工业的生产率产生重大影响。

This research is focussed on the application of Ion Beam Figuring (IBF) techniques to manufacture aspheric optical elements. IBF will be used to remove spherical aberration and defocus. This will be accomplished in several steps. An optical map of the element will be first obtained using phase measurement interferometry. This will be processed by a restoration algorithm, which is to be developed, to determine the time the ion beam source is to dwell at each location in front of the substrate. IBF will then be performed to make the aspheric element. This approach will remove a significant amount of uncertainty from the process of fabrication of aspheric optics which are now almost totally dependant on operator skill. Since these type of optics are pervasive in optical instrumentation, this research will make a significant impact on improving the productivity of the optic industry.