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Optical Flats Print E-mail

 

Precision reference plates for optical testing.

 

An optical flat is a precisely polished flat surface which may be used as a reference to measure the flatness of an unknown surface. Artifex Engineering offers both single surface and dual surface optical flats in BK7, Zerodur® or Fused Silica. We offer two different levels of accuracy: λ/10 and λ/20 for our single surface optical flat. For our dual surface optical flat, λ/10 is available.

We provide a Zygo® test report with each flat.

® Zerodur is a registered trade mark of Schott Glas AG

® Zygo is a registered trade mark of Zygo Corporation

 

Download complete catalogue

 

Specifications Single and Dual Surface Optical Flats: 

 

Material: BK7 Fused Silica Zerodur  
Ref Index: nd = 1.517 nd = 1.458 nd = 1.54 
Abbe Number: vd = 64.07 vd = 67.7 vd = 56.2 
Density: 2.53 g/cm3 2.2 g/cm3  2.58 g/cm3  
Exp. Coefficient: 7.1x10-6/°C 0.55x10-6/°C 0.1x10-6/°C 
Surface Quality: 60/40 60/40 60/40 
Parallelism: <1 arc. min.   
Back Surface: 1-2λ @ 633 nm   
Dia.Tolerance: ±1 mm   
Thick Tolerance: ±1.5 mm   

 

 

Single Surface Optical Flats

 

λ/10λ/20 Diameter (mm)Thickness (mm)Material
Catalog No. Catalog No. 

F1-BK-10-025

F1-BK-20-0252512.5BK7

F1-FS-10-025

F1-FS-20-0252512.5Fused Silica

F1-Z-10-025

F1-Z-20-0252512.5Zerodur 

F1-BK-10-030

F1-BK-20-030 3015BK7

F1-FS-10-030

F1-FS-20-0303015Fused Silica

F1-Z-10-030

F1-Z-20-030 3015Zerodur

F1-BK-10-050 

F1-BK-20-050 5015BK7 

F1-FS-10-050 

F1-FS-20-050 

5015Fused Silica 

F1-Z-10-050 

F1-Z-20-050 

5015Zerodur 
F1-BK-10-075 F1-BK-20-075 7520BK7 
F1-FS-10-075 F1-FS-20-075 7520Fused Silica 
F1-Z-10-075 F1-Z-20-0757520Zerodur 
F1-BK-10-100 F1-BK-20-100 10020BK7 
F1-FS-10-100 F1-FS-20-100 10020Fused Silica 
F1-Z-10-100 F1-Z-20-100 10020Zerodur 
F1-BK-10-150  15025BK7 
F1-FS-10-150  15025Fused Silica 

F1-BK-10-200 

 20038BK7 
F1-FS-10-200  20038Fused Silica 

 

The secondary surface of our single surface flats is pitch polished to window quality for viewing the interference pattern.

 

 

Dual Surface Optical Flats

 

λ/10

Diameter (mm)Thickness (mm)Material
Catalog No. 

F2-BK-10-025

2512.5BK7

F2-FS-10-025

2512.5Fused Silica

F2-Z-10-025

2512.5Zerodur 

F2-BK-10-030

3015BK7

F2-FS-10-030

3015Fused Silica

F2-Z-10-030

3015Zerodur

F2-BK-10-050 

5015BK7 

F2-FS-10-050 

5015Fused Silica 

F2-Z-10-050 

5015Zerodur 
F2-BK-10-075 7520BK7 
F2-FS-10-075 7520Fused Silica 
F2-Z-10-075 7520Zerodur 
F2-BK-10-100 10020BK7 
F2-FS-10-100 10020Fused Silica 
F2-Z-10-100 10020Zerodur 
F2-BK-10-150 15025BK7 
F2-FS-10-150 15025Fused Silica 

F2-BK-10-200 

20038BK7 
F2-FS-10-200 20038Fused Silica 

 

Our dual surface optical flats are precision ground and polished to stated accuracies on both surfaces so that either face may be used for test applications.

 

Optional Accessories:

Felt lined protective case with hasp. 

 

Application Notes:

Interference fringes formed between an optical flat and a device under test when viewed under monochromatic light give a visual representation of the flatness of the surface being tested. The surface accuracy is indicated by the amount of curvature and spacing between the interference fringes.


Measurement of the surface flatness of polished surfaces can be determined visually by comparing the variations between a work surface and the surface of an optical flat. These are versatile optical components used in many applications such as: inspection of gauge blocks for wear and accuracy, as well as the testing of various components, including windows, prisms, filters, mirrors, etc. They can also be used as extremely flat optical windows for demanding interferometry requirements.

An optical flat utilizes the property of interference to exhibit the flatness on a desired surface. When an optical flat, also known as a test plate, and a work surface are placed in contact, an air wedge is formed. Areas between the flat and the work surface that are not in contact form this air wedge. The change in thickness of the air wedge will dictate the shape and orientation of the interference bands. The amount of curvature that is shown by the interference bands can be used to determine the flatness of the surface.
The determination of the flatness of any particular region of a surface is done by making two parallel imaginary lines, one between the ends of any one fringes, and the other at the top of that same fringe.
The number of fringes located between the lines can be used to determine the flatness.