Silicon Carbide Mirror Manufacture Processes and Techniques

Abstract

A new generation of laser mirrors were required which feature more efficient mirror designs fabricated from newer advanced materials, Silicon carbide is a factor of four better in terms of specific stiffness and resistance to thermal distortion, the key parameters for a cooled mirror. In addition silicon carbide is a factor of three better than molybdenum in terms of weight, the critical parameter for a space based optic.