Parabolic Mirror Optical Mirrors
Last Updated: April 1, 2025
Description
Parabolic mirrors are optical components designed to reflect light in a way that focuses parallel rays to a single focal point. They are characterized by their parabolic shape, which is a specific type of curve that ensures all incoming parallel light rays are reflected to converge at a common point.
Working Principle
Parabolic mirrors work by utilizing their unique geometric shape to direct light. The parabolic curve ensures that light rays entering parallel to the mirror's axis are reflected to a single focal point. This property makes them highly effective for applications requiring precise focusing of light. The absence of spherical aberration in parabolic mirrors allows them to focus light more accurately than spherical mirrors, making them particularly useful in optical systems where precision is critical.
Applications
Parabolic mirrors are used in a variety of applications where precise light focusing is essential. They are commonly employed in telescopes to gather and focus light from distant stars and planets, enhancing the clarity and detail of astronomical observations. In laser systems, parabolic mirrors are used to focus laser beams with high precision, which is crucial for applications such as laser cutting and medical laser treatments. Additionally, they are utilized in solar energy systems, where they concentrate sunlight onto a small area to generate heat or electricity efficiently.
Advantages over other Optical Mirrors
Parabolic mirrors offer several advantages over other types of optical mirrors, such as spherical mirrors. One significant advantage is their ability to focus light without introducing spherical aberration, which is a common issue with spherical mirrors. This results in a more accurate and concentrated focal point. Furthermore, parabolic mirrors can maintain high optical quality and power, as they do not introduce phase delay or absorption losses, making them ideal for high-precision applications like femtosecond pulsed lasers .
Limitations
Despite their advantages, parabolic mirrors have some limitations. They can be more challenging to align compared to other mirror types, such as spherical mirrors, due to their specific shape and the precision required in their setup . Additionally, the manufacturing process for parabolic mirrors can be more complex and costly, which may impact their initial cost and availability.
Considerations
When considering the use of parabolic mirrors, several factors should be taken into account. The initial cost of parabolic mirrors can be higher due to the complexity of their design and manufacturing process. Operating expenses may also be influenced by the need for precise alignment and maintenance to ensure optimal performance. Durability is another consideration, as the mirrors must be protected from environmental factors that could degrade their reflective surfaces. Accuracy is a key advantage of parabolic mirrors, but it requires careful handling and maintenance to preserve. Replacement and maintenance costs should also be considered, as these can vary depending on the specific application and environmental conditions in which the mirrors are used.
from Newport MKS
The 50328AL Off-Axis Replicated Parabolic Mirror is 1.50 inches in diameter, with an effective focal length of 0.80 inches, and coated with Protected Aluminum. These standard off-axis parabolic mirrors are circular segments from one side of a full paraboloid. The focal point is displaced from the... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Wavelength Range: 190 to 2000
- Focal Length: 20.32
- Diameter/Width: 38.1
from Zygo Corporation
ZYGO's Optics business segment can custom manufacture precision CLEARCERAM ® mirrors to your exact specifications. CLEARCERAM ® mirrors are made from a glass-ceramic substrate which features ultra-low thermal expansion over a wide range of temperatures. The material is approximately 70%... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Flat Mirror; Parabolic Mirror; Reflector; Spherical Mirror; Aspheric, EUV, Light-Weighted, Monolithic
- Reflector / Parabolic Mirror Shape: Off Axis Paraboloid
- Mirror Materials: CLEARCERAM®
from Avantier Inc.
Off-Axis Parabolic Mirrors and Their Characteristics. An off-axis parabolic mirror is a specialized optical mirror cut from a larger parabolic mirror. Parabolic mirrors collimate light, and an off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirror will do the same, and can also focus incident collimated light to a point. [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Mirror Shape: Round
- Wavelength Range: 450 to 12000
- Mirror Coatings: Aluminum (optional feature); Enhanced Aluminum (optional feature); Protected Aluminum (optional feature); Gold (optional feature); Protected Gold (optional feature); Protected Gold, Protected Silver, UV Enhanced Aluminum, Ultrafast Ehanced Silver
from Newport MKS
The 50328AU Off-Axis Replicated Parabolic Mirror is 1.50 inches in diameter, with an effective focal length of 0.80 inches, and coated with Bare Gold. These standard off-axis parabolic mirrors are circular segments from one side of a full paraboloid. The focal point is displaced from the mechanical... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Wavelength Range: 800 to 15000
- Focal Length: 20.32
- Diameter/Width: 38.1
from Zygo Corporation
Applications. ZYGO has a long tradition of manufacturing custom-made optical mirrors for a wide variety of applications, including, but not limited to: EUV mirrors. Lightweighted mirrors. Space mirrors. Stage Components for lithographic steppers. X-ray mirrors. Defense/Aerospace. Medical/Life... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Flat Mirror; Parabolic Mirror; Reflector; Spherical Mirror; Aspheric, EUV, Light-Weighted, Monolithic
- Mirror Materials: Zerodur®; CLEARCERAM®, Cordierite, Silicon Carbide, ULE®, Silicon
- Diameter/Width: 305 to 813
- Surface Flatness: To better than λ/50
from Newport MKS
The 50329AL Off-Axis Replicated Parabolic Mirror is 1.50 inches in diameter, with an effective focal length of 2.00 inches, and coated with Protected Aluminum. These standard off-axis parabolic mirrors are circular segments from one side of a full paraboloid. The focal point is displaced from the... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Wavelength Range: 190 to 2000
- Focal Length: 50.8
- Diameter/Width: 38.1
from Zygo Corporation
ZYGO's Optics business segment custom manufactures silicon carbide mirrors to exacting standards. Silicon carbide (SiC) has long been recognized as an attractive mirror material due to its superior mechanical and thermal properties when compared to conventional optical materials. However, the... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror; Reflector; Spherical Mirror; Aspheric, EUV, Light-Weighted, Monolithic
- Reflector / Parabolic Mirror Shape: Off Axis Paraboloid
- Mirror Materials: Silicon Carbide
from Newport MKS
The 50329AU Off-Axis Replicated Parabolic Mirror is 1.50 inches in diameter, with an effective focal length of 2.00 inches, and coated with Bare Gold. These standard off-axis parabolic mirrors are circular segments from one side of a full paraboloid. The focal point is displaced from the mechanical... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Wavelength Range: 800 to 15000
- Focal Length: 50.8
- Diameter/Width: 38.1
from Newport MKS
The 50332AL Off-Axis Replicated Parabolic Mirror is 1.50 inches in diameter, with an effective focal length of 8.00 inches, and coated with Protected Aluminum. These standard off-axis parabolic mirrors are circular segments from one side of a full paraboloid. The focal point is displaced from the... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Wavelength Range: 190 to 2000
- Focal Length: 203
- Diameter/Width: 38.1
from Newport MKS
The 50332AU Off-Axis Replicated Parabolic Mirror is 1.50 inches in diameter, with an effective focal length of 8.00 inches, and coated with Bare Gold. These standard off-axis parabolic mirrors are circular segments from one side of a full paraboloid. The focal point is displaced from the mechanical... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Wavelength Range: 800 to 15000
- Focal Length: 203
- Diameter/Width: 38.1
from Shanghai Optics
Off Axis Parabolic Mirror for Every Application. An off axis parabolic mirror is an optical device which transforms plane waves into spherical waves and spherical waves into plane waves. This makes it useful for collimating light from a point source as well as focusing collimated light to a point. [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Reflector / Parabolic Mirror Shape: Off Axis Paraboloid
from Daheng New Epoch Technology, Inc.
gt;96% Average Reflectance Over a Broadband Range from 800 nm to 20 µm Collimates a Point Source or Focuses a Collimated Beam without Spherical or Chromatic Aberrations Effective Focal Lengths: 15 mm to 9" (228.6 mm) Surface Roughness: <100 Å (RMS) Clear Aperture: >90% of Diameter Three Kinds... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Diameter/Width: 50.8
- Wavelength Range: 800 to 20000
- Reflector / Parabolic Mirror Shape: Off Axis Paraboloid
from Shimadzu Corporation
An off-axis parabolic mirror converts plane waves into spherical ones and vice versa with high accuracy. This aspherical mirror is indispensable for spectrometers and astronomical optical instruments which require high resolution. [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Second Focal Length: 134 to 789
- Focal Length: 125 to 787
- Diameter/Width: 40 to 65
from Thorlabs, Inc.
At Thorlabs, we constantly reinforce our desire to serve at the pleasure of our customers. From this comes our desire to be connected to our industry in a way that far exceeds what would typically be expected of a vendor. Thorlabs lives this core principle by seeking to enhance, at every turn, the... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Second Focal Length: 15 to 152
- Focal Length: 7.5 to 260
- Wavelength Range: 250 to 20000
from Qioptiq
Designed for imaging systems. No spherical aberration. High-precision flatness. Substrates are fabricated from low expansion material. Aluminum coatings with a protective SiO2 overcoating (RAL). Mirror radii = 2 • f [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Diameter/Width: 100
- Focal Length: 660
- Mirror Coatings: Protected Aluminum
from Specialty Components, Inc.
Diamond turned first-surface Aluminum mirrors provide a highly efficient parabolic focus of light in the infrared range. Guaranteed at ½ , ¼ or 1/8 waveform accuracy with <16nm Ra surface finish. Select from protected Aluminum, protected Gold or untreated coatings combined with your... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Mirror Shape: Elliptical
- Diameter/Width: 22.86
- Mirror Materials: Aluminum
from Edmund Optics Inc.
Precision Polished Substrate. Protected Aluminum and Cold Mirror Coating Options. Ideal for Highly Divergent Light Sources. Precision Ellipsoidal Reflectors Also Available. Precision Parabolic Reflectors are ideal for collimating a light source placed at the focal point of the mirror. The parabolic... [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Mirror Shape: Round
- Diameter/Width: 100
- Mirror Materials: BOROFLOAT®
from Shimadzu Corporation
This aspherical mirror, which focuses parallel light to the focus point without aberrations, or converts a point light source from the focuse point into parallel light without aberrations, is used in spectroscopic systems that require high resolution. [See More]
- Mirror Types: Parabolic Mirror
- Second Focal Length: 279 to 351
- Focal Length: 275 to 350
- Diameter/Width: 40 to 60