Laser Based Optics Manufacturing

Kind, H., Aden, M., Brackmann, F., Brosda, M., Olowinsky A., Schütze, C., Schumann, O.:
Development of a Laser-based Process to Produce a Hermetically Sealed Contacting Interface for the Encapsulation of Temperature-sensitive Electronic Components.
Journal of Laser Applications 37(1), 012002, (8 S.), (2025)
https://doi.org/10.2351/7.0001550

Fu, C., Onyszkiewicz, D., Kemmerling, M., Stollenwerk, J., Holly, C.:
Evaluation of action spaces for reinforcement learning in optical design.
SPIE Photonics Europe, 2024, 7-12 April 2024, Strasbourg, France.
Proceedings Volume 13017, Machine Learning in Photonics; 130170X (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3016630

Esser, D., Giesberts, M., Erben, B., Nyga, S., Kasemann, R., Wührer, C., Hahn, S., Leyendecker, M., Eßer, J., Wirz, W., Klein, S., Traub, M., Klein, J., Brandenburg, W., Luttmann, K., Mohr, D., Pérez Prieto, L., Hoffmann, H.-D,
Optomechanical design of a 150 mJ single frequency UV laser for the AEOLUS-2 mission.
International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2022, 3-7 October 2022, Dubrovnik, Croatia. Proceedings Volume 12777, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2022; 127770N (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2688830

Fu, C., Kemmerling, M., Stollenwerk, J., Holly, C.:
Ansätze für die Entwicklung von optischen Systemen mittels bestärkenden Lernens.
124. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für angewandte Optik e.V., 30.05.2023-03.06.2023, Berlin.
DGaO-Proceedings, B10,(2 S.) (2023)

Fu, C., Stollenwerk, J., Holly, C.:
Reinforcement learning for guiding optimization processes in optical design.
SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2022, San Diego, California, United States.
Proceedings Volume 12227, Applications of Machine Learning 2022; 1222709 (2022)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2632425

Grubert, N., Lange, O., Stollenwerk, J., Holly, C.,
Optomechanische Toleranzangaben aus dem Optikdesign nach ISO-GPS-Norm.
123. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für angewandte Optik, 7.-11.Juni 2022, Pforzheim. DGaO-Proceedings 123_A32 (2022)

Lüttgenau, B., Panitzek, D., Danylyuk, S., Brose, S., Stollenwerk, J., Loosen, P., Holly, C.:
Design of an efficient illuminator for partially coherent sources in the extreme ultraviolet.
APPLIED OPTICS 61(11), 3026-3033 (2022)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/ao.452204 (Open Access)

Trum, C., Jung, M., Schmidbauer, B., Sitzberger, S., Willenborg, E., Rascher, R.:
Hybrid-process-chain for polishing optical glass lenses – HyoptO.
SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 24 AUGUST - 4 SEPTEMBER 2020, Online Only. Proceedings Volume 11487, FOptical Manufacturing and Testing XIII, 11487, 1-10 (2020)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2568400

Prochnau,M., Stollenwerk, J., Loosen, P.:
Approach towards the digital optical twin.
International Optical Design Conference - IODC 2017,09-13 July 2017 Denver United States. Proc. SPIE 10590, International Optical Design Conference 2017, 1059021, (6 S.), 1-6 (2017)
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2287492

Traub, M., Holly, C., Hoffmann, D., Widmann, C., Zuerbig, V., Nebel, C.:
Synthetic Mono-Crystalline Diamond Lenses for High Power Laser Materials Processing Applications.
OSA Optical Design and Fabrication Congress, IODC 2017, 09 - 13 July 2017, Denver, Colorado, United States.Optics InfoBase Conference PapersVolume Part F56-OFT 2017, 2017, 1-3 (2017)
https://doi.org/10.1364/OFT.2017.OTu3B.3

Unsere Leistungsangebote decken ein weites Themenspektrum ab. Verwandte Themen zur Optikfertigung und weitere Schwerpunkte aus Forschung und Entwicklung finden Sie unter den folgenden Links.

Our Equipment (Excerpt)

•    Zemax OpticStudy software for optical design

•    Software for the design of free-form optics (developed in-house in collaboration with TOS at RWTH Aachen University)

•    Several machines for selective laser etching (SLE), including the necessary etching technology for KOH and HF

•    Ultra-precision lathe for SLE of rotationally symmetric optics up to 200 mm in diameter and 20 mm in thickness

•    Multiple machines for UKP surface ablation, equipped with laser sources ranging from IR through VIS and UV to DUV, pulse durations from picoseconds to femtoseconds, and laser powers from a few watts to 1 kW.

•    Temperature-controlled ultrasonic baths with circulation pumps for homogeneous and uniform etching processes in continuous operation

•    Several laser polishing machines for laser polishing of glass and plastic (100 to 2,000 W laser power)

•    Machine for laser beam figuring (LBF) for precision shape correction of quartz glass optics

•    Machine for inverse laser drilling of fiber preforms

•    Assembly and joining technology for optical components

•    White-light interferometers (Zygo NX2, Zygo NV7300) for measuring roughness (HSFE) and waviness (MSFE) with sub-nanometer height resolution

•    Fizeau interferometer (Möller Wedel) for measuring the shape of flat surfaces and spheres

•    Optical and tactile sensors for measuring the shape of aspheric optics

•    Various (digital) light microscopes for identifying and evaluating surface defects

•    Laser scanning microscopes

Our facilities include a high-performance, integrated infrastructure for the optical design, fabrication, and characterization of innovative optical components. In the field of optical design, we have access to state-of-the-art tools for developing sophisticated optical systems, including Zemax OpticStudio and software for designing free-form optics developed in collaboration with the TOS at RWTH Aachen University.

For fabrication, our infrastructure offers a wide range of laser-based processes. These include several systems for selective laser etching (SLE), including the necessary etching techniques for KOH and HF. An ultra-precision lathe enables the machining of rotationally symmetric optics up to a diameter of 200 mm and a thickness of 20 mm. The equipment is supplemented by systems for UKP ablation, several laser polishing machines for processing glass and plastic with laser powers ranging from 100 to 2,000 W, and a laser beam figuring (LBF) system for high-precision shape correction of quartz glass optics. In addition, a machine for inverse laser drilling of fiber preforms is available. Processes and machines for assembly and joining technology are also part of the existing technical infrastructure.

In the field of metrology, the institute is equipped with state-of-the-art systems for high-resolution measurement of the surface and geometric properties of optical components. Zygo NX2 and Zygo NV7300 white-light interferometers enable the measurement of roughness (HSFE) and waviness (MSFE) with subnanometer height resolution. A Fizeau interferometer from Möller Wedel is used for the precise measurement of the shape of flat surfaces and spherical optics. Optical and tactile sensors are also available for characterizing aspheric optics. The metrology equipment is supplemented by various digital light microscopes for identifying and evaluating surface defects, as well as by laser scanning microscopes for further analysis.

Taken together, this equipment forms the foundation for research and development throughout the entire process chain—from optical design and manufacturing to quality-assured metrological evaluation of complex optical systems.