[SatNews] Aspheric lenses are produced by Optical Surfaces Ltd. in a range of high-quality optical glasses with low f-number to optimise light gathering and focusing performance.

To meet the demands of challenging applications, including high-power laser focusing, LIDAR and laser launch telescopes, Optical Surfaces is able to manufacture aspheric lenses, up to 600mm diameter, with surface finish of 20/10 scratch/dig, surface roughness of 1 nanometer rms and ultra-smooth slope errors. A range of high-power laser coatings is available to maintain high transmission and enable Optical Surfaces' aspheric lenses to operate at the ultra-high energy thresholds demanded by the Terawatt lasers used to investigate fundamental plasma physics.

Aspheric Lenses are used to eliminate spherical aberration in a growing number of applications. Aspheric lenses use a single element design which helps minimize the number of lenses found in multi-lens optical assemblies. This reduction in total element count helps decrease system size or weight as well as simplifies the assembly process. Overall, integrating an aspheric lens into an optical design typically reduces cost and may also outperform assemblies designed with traditional spherical optical lenses.

Optical Surfaces Ltd. has been producing optical components and systems for more than 50 years and is accepted as one of the world's leading manufacturers of high-precision aspheric lenses.  The company's ISO 9001-2008 approved manufacturing workshops and test facilities are deep underground in a series of tunnels excavated in solid chalk where temperature remains constant and vibration is practically non-existent. With such stable conditions testing, particularly with long path lengths, becomes quantifiable and reliable. Working with these natural advantages is a highly skilled team of craftsmen with a commitment to excellence in both product quality and customer service.