Development and fabrication of a hyperspectral, mirror based IR-telescope with ultra-precise manufacturing and mounting techniques for a snap-together system assembly

We report on an ultra-precise manufacturing method of a hyperspectral, mirror based IR-Telescope for applications in the Mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR). The proposed method simplifies the otherwise time consuming system alignment by the use of a snap-together assembly technique, that can be used for rotationally symmetric designs such as Korsch or Three Mirror Anastigmatic (TMA) telescope designs. The proposed technology is based on diamond machining of at least two mirror surfaces on one common substrate in one and the same machine setup. A novel hybrid manufacturing approach, which is a combination of diamond turning and diamond milling is used to manufacture fiducials and mounting planes that reduce the adjustment expenditure significantly. Reference elements and interfaces on the substrates are the basis for a precise metrology of the shape and the position of the optical surfaces as well as for the final assembly of the optical bench. The system integration into a hexapod framework is also based on precisely diamond machined stop surfaces to define the air distance and tilt between the mirrors. The presented method is a novel manufacturing and mounting technology for IR-telescope assemblies with diffraction limited optical performance in the MWIR.