Optimax wins precision optics SBIRs from the Navy, Army, and NASA

Ontario, NY--In addition to its Phase II Navy Small Business Innovation Research grant on aerodynamic infrared domes and its Phase 1 Navy SBIR on optically precise conformal sensor windows, optics manufacturer Optimax was awarded two new precision optics Phase I SBIRs--one from the Army for "Deterministic finishing of domes with buried electromagnetic structures," and one from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for "Removing mid-spatial frequency errors on curved surfaces with VIBE."

VIBE technology is able to reduce and/or eliminate mid-spatial frequency (MSF) errors for many applications. Some applications include high-energy laser systems, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) optics for lithography, imaging systems, and X-ray synchrotrons.

The research for this Phase I NASA SBIR will be focusing specifically on applications that are susceptible to small-angle scatter, sometimes referred to as flare, and the feasibility study will focus on the VIBE finishing step to remove undesirable MSF errors while at the same time maintaining the desired low-spatial-frequency form accuracy.

Optimax provides rapid prototyping of precision optical components and specializes in aphere, cylinder, sphere, and plano/flat optics.

SOURCE: Optimax; www.optimaxsi.com