Large Optics Solutions by Avantier
Avantier delivers precision‑engineered large optics and complete large optics solutions for advanced imaging and photonics systems. Our large diameter lenses, mirrors, prisms, domes, and windows—typically above 100 mm—are custom designed for astronomy, aerospace, satellite communication, laser systems, and scientific imaging where power handling, stability, and accuracy are critical.
Discover how our broader Custom Optics platform supports end‑to‑end large optics solutions from design to coating.
What Are Large Optics?
Large optics are optical components such as lenses, mirrors, prisms, domes, and windows with diameters typically greater than 100 mm, engineered to support large clear apertures and high energy throughput. These elements enable high‑resolution imaging with minimal aberration, superior light‑gathering capability, and stable performance under extreme temperatures, vibration, and harsh environments.
Why Choose Avantier for Large Optics?
- Custom Fabrication: Large optics are fully customized to complex optical and mechanical requirements, including clear aperture, wedge, flatness, and surface figure.
- Advanced Coatings: High‑durability AR, HR, dielectric, beam‑splitter, and laser‑grade coatings optimized for UV, visible, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR bands.
- Precision Manufacturing: Tight tolerances validated through interferometry, surface profilometry, and high LIDT testing for high‑power laser and space optics.
- Wide Material Selection: BK7, fused silica, ZnSe, ZnS, germanium, chalcogenide, sapphire, silicon, and other mission‑specific substrates.
Avantier is a vertically integrated, ISO‑certified optics manufacturer with decades of experience designing and producing large diameter optics for telescopes, satellite payloads, and industrial laser systems.
Large Optics Product Portfolio
- Custom large lenses in spherical and aspherical geometries
- High image quality with minimized aberrations
- Large apertures for enhanced low‑light performance
- Coatings for UV, visible, IR, and broadband applications
- Ideal for astronomy, earth observation, and high‑energy laser systems
- Ideal for beam steering and imaging in telescopes, remote sensing instruments, LiDAR, and laser beam delivery
- Precision‑manufactured reflective surfaces with optional metal or dielectric coatings
- Available in flat, spherical, and off‑axis parabolic (OAP) formats for system‑level optimization
- Used for beam deviation, dispersion, and image rotation in spectrometers, satellite optics, and laser diagnostics
- Available in glass, metal, crystal, and optical‑grade plastic variants
- High‑reflectivity coatings up to about 99.9% with tight angle and flatness control to minimize beam deviation
- Support wide field‑of‑view imaging and sensing applications
- Transparent across visible, UV, and IR wavelength bands
- Materials include germanium, BK7, sapphire, acrylic, and fused silica for balanced durability, environmental resistance, and spectral performance in airborne, maritime, and space platforms.
For related high‑aperture designs, see our Large Aperture Optics page.
Applications of Large Optics
Astronomical Telescopes & Space Imaging
- Primary and secondary mirrors, relay lenses, and windows for optical telescope elements (OTE) that maximize light collection and angular resolution.
- Large optics support wavefront sensing, thermal management, and stray‑light control under vacuum and cryogenic conditions with space‑rated coatings and structures.
Ultrashort Pulse Laser Compression
- Large‑diameter gratings and mirrors sized to safely handle very high peak power without exceeding laser‑induced damage thresholds (LIDT).
- High flatness and homogeneous substrates maintain pulse quality and prevent distortion during chirped‑pulse amplification and compression stages.
High-Resolution Optical Imaging
- Larger input apertures improve diffraction‑limited resolution and boost signal levels, enabling shorter exposure times and better SNR for faint targets.
- Critical for earth observation, satellite imaging, and advanced biomedical systems where fine detail and low‑contrast object detection are required.
Optical Metrology
- Large optics undergo in‑house measurements of wavefront error, surface roughness, and coating uniformity to verify they meet mission‑specific tolerances.
- Advanced interferometers, profilometers, and custom fixtures allow accurate testing of large mirrors, lenses, domes, and freeform components.
Beam Expanders and Laser Systems
- Custom large optics are integrated into beam expanders and laser delivery paths to increase beam diameter, reduce divergence, and stabilize pointing.
- Designed for precise alignment and low‑distortion propagation in industrial machining, defense targeting, and scientific laser facilities.
Learn more about our dedicated Optical Metrology Services for large optics and complex freeform components
Materials for Large Optics
Material | Key Properties | Common Use Cases |
Fused Silica | High thermal stability, UV to IR transparency | Astronomy, laser optics |
BK7 Glass | Cost-effective, excellent visible transmission | Lenses, domes |
Germanium | IR transmission, high refractive index | Infrared imaging, defense optics |
Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) | Broad IR range, low absorption | CO₂ laser systems, thermal imaging |
Sapphire | Scratch-resistant, durable, high melting point | High-end domes, harsh environments |
Chalcogenide Glass | Transparent in MWIR & LWIR | Thermal imaging, remote sensing |
Large Optics Coating Capabilities
High-Performance Coatings for Large-Diameter Optical Components
Avantier provides advanced thin‑film coatings specifically engineered for large optics—including lenses, mirrors, domes, windows, and prisms up to approximately 1,000 mm in diameter. Coating processes are tuned for high uniformity and stability across UV, visible, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR bands used in astronomy, aerospace, defense, laser systems, and semiconductor tools.
Coating Types and Benefits
Coating Type | Benefits & Applications |
Anti-Reflection (AR) Coatings | Maximize transmission; broadband AR, V-type, and custom wavelength AR coatings |
High-Reflection (HR) Coatings | Dielectric, enhanced metal, and laser-grade coatings with reflectivity >99.5% |
Beam Splitter & Partial Reflective Coatings | Precision R/T ratios (50/50, 70/30, 90/10); interferometry, laser diagnostics, imaging |
Metallic Coatings | Protected and enhanced Aluminum, Silver, Gold for VIS to LWIR |
Specialized & Functional Films | Polarizing, conductive, hydrophobic, abrasion-resistant, and space-grade coatings |
Engineered for Extreme Optical Performance
Our coatings for large optical components deliver:
- Ultra-high transmission/reflectivity across UV–LWIR
- Laser damage-resistant (high LIDT) coatings
- Uniformity <1% across large diameters
- Low scatter and low absorption
- MIL-spec and ISO-certified durability
- Thermal & mechanical stability for space and defense optics
Systems include the Bühler ARES1110, enable precise deposition and uniformity control on large‑diameter substrates, preserving surface accuracy and imaging performance.
For more on coating technology across product lines, see our Optical Coatings overview.
Coating Capabilities Tailored to Large Optics
- Stress-optimized coating stacks to preserve surface accuracy
- Precision edge control and masking for oversized optics
- Smooth thin-film surfaces for diffraction-limited imaging
- Expertise in coating aspheres, domes, prisms, mirrors, and thick substrates
- Cryogenic & high-vacuum compatible coatings for space environments
From deep-space telescope mirrors to large infrared domes and high-power laser optics, Avantier delivers the coating performance needed for mission-critical imaging and photonics systems.
Upgrade Your Large Optics With Advanced Thin-Film Coatings
Whether you need large-diameter AR coatings, high-reflective coatings, or custom laser coatings, Avantier provides precision engineered solutions with fast turnaround and technical support from concept to production.
Avantier combines large optics design expertise, precision manufacturing, metrology, and coating to deliver complete large optics solutions for mission‑critical imaging and photonics systems. Whether you need large‑diameter AR‑coated lenses, space‑qualified mirrors, or high‑power laser optics, the engineering team can support you from concept through production.
👉 Contact Avantier today to discuss your large optics specifications or request a quote, and explore how optimized large optics solutions can improve performance in your next system.
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