custom aspheric lens space-qualified fused silica

Product Description

Rare US Defense Research Laboratory Custom Aspheric Lens from WFOV Telescope Assembly – Space-Qualified Optic with Lasercom Heritage

Elevate your optical collection or project with this exceptional, one-of-a-kind aspheric biconvex lens. Originally fabricated by Barr Associates (now Materion Precision Optics) for a US Defense Laboratory’s advanced Wide Field-of-View (WFOV) Telescope Assembly, this certified component was procured for cutting-edge R&D in space surveillance and laser communication systems. With a pedigree tied to projects like the Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) —which pioneered high-data-rate optical links from the Moon—this lens represents a tangible piece of space exploration history, now available as surplus for discerning buyers in astronomy, photonics, or high-tech prototyping .

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Key Specifications and Uniqueness

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Material & Coating Advantages

• High-Purity Fused Silica: Provides exceptional broadband transmission (>99% in UV/visible/NIR) and ultra-low thermal expansion, making it ideal for space environments with extreme temperature swings and radiation exposure .

• Multi-Layer Dielectric AR Coatings: Custom-run HC7 hard coat ensures durability in harsh environments. Achieves <0.5% reflectivity per surface across 400–1600 nm for >98% throughput.

• Laser Damage Resistance: The hard coat, paired with fused silica’s high laser damage threshold, ensures resilience against thermal cycling, vibration, vacuum, and high-fluence beams—far surpassing consumer-grade optics and justifying its use in NASA-level demonstrations .

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Optical Performance

Engineered for diffraction-limited imaging in WFOV setups (5–15°+ fields), this aspheric lens corrects coma, spherical aberration, and distortion without bulky additional elements. As “L2” in the assembly, it served as a critical relay or corrector lens, enabling compact, high-magnification telescopes (e.g., 47x in LLCD analogs) while maintaining excellent wavefront quality.

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Applications & Versatility

Space & Defense Prototyping:
Ideal for replicating lasercom terminals, satellite tracking, or beam expanders—mimic Defense Research Lab’s setups for free-space optical links at >100 Gbps data rates, as demonstrated in LLCD and follow-ons like CLICK or TBIRD . Fused silica’s radiation resistance and thermal stability make it perfect for R&D in optical inter-satellite links (OISL) or ground-to-space demos under extreme conditions.

Astronomy & Imaging:
Build custom WFOV refractors or correctors for wide-sky surveys, asteroid tracking, or deep-space observation—enhance amateur setups with pro-grade aspheric precision for sharper, flatter fields than off-the-shelf lenses.

Photonics & Lab Use:
Integrate into fiber-optic systems, laser collimators, or machine vision prototypes; its aspheric design excels in high-resolution imaging over extended FOVs, suitable for robotics, remote sensing, or AR/VR optics.

Collectible Value:
With only a handful produced, this lens is rarer than typical surplus—direct from a federally funded lab advancing U.S. space tech. Comparable space-flown optics fetch premiums at auctions; this ground/test unit offers accessible entry into that world.

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Condition

EXCELLENT CONDITION
PROFESSIONALLY REMOVED FROM R&D SETUP
OPTICS: CLEAN, NO VISIBLE COATING DAMAGE, SCRATCHES, OR HAZE (inspected)
NO MOUNTING HARDWARE OR ORIGINAL DOCUMENTATION INCLUDED
PICTURE MAY NOT MATCH PRODUCT