OPTI 597A- Optical Shot Practices
Course Description:
Experience with various techniques to produce several basic optical surfaces — a sphere, a flat
or a paraboloid. These surfaces can be used as the main components of a simple telescope of 4
inches aperture. The emphasis of the course is to produce actual optical elements by applying
abstract optical concepts. Prerequisite: OPTI 201R or OPTI 502.
Textbooks:
Recommended
Karow, Hank (2004). Fabrication Methods for Precision Optics. Wiley-Interscience.
ISBN:9780471703792
Malacara, Daniel (2007). Optical Shop Testing (3rd ed.). Wiley-Interscience.
ISBN:9780471484042
Texereau, Jean (1984). How to Make a Telescope (2nd ed.). Willmann-Bell.
ISBN:9780943396040
Grading Policy:
The grade is based on the completion of the mirrors.
Objectives
This is a hands-on course to learn the basics of optical fabrication. Students fabricate and test
one or two mirrors that can be used to make a telescope. Curve generation, fine grinding,
polishing, figuring, and testing are some of the tasks to be done. Some theoretical aspects are
discussed, such as theories of grinding and polishing, subsurface damage, surface roughness,
and testing. The emphasis of the course is to produce optical elements by applying abstract
optical concepts. Occasionally students get involved in aluminizing their mirrors.
Topics
Glass selection
Beveling
Abrasives
Generating
Grinding
Polishing
Testing: spherometer, profilometer, Foucault, Ronchi, and interferometer tests
Theoretical aspects