The laser power has been continually increased since the laser was developed in the mid-20th century. Achieving higher laser power requires not only enhancing the cooling performance of laser systems but also addressing the potential degradation of optical characteristics due to thermal deformation induced by laser beam absorption in a mirror. This study delves into the thermal deformation characteristics of mirrors in high-power laser systems. To minimize thermal deformation by heat absorption, Zerodur, known for its low coefficient of thermal expansion, was employed as the mirror material. Various configurations including circular, rectangular, and spline shapes were implemented on a solid mirror structure. Furthermore, two different diameter of a mirror, 300mm and 400mm, were considered to investigate the size effect of the high-power laser beams. Also, three different transmitted beam power were adopted: 50W, 250W, and 500W. Based on the finite element analysis for the thermal deformation, the deformation characteristics of the different types of mirror structures were investigated and analyzed for high-power laser systems.

With the advancement of optical design and manufacturing technology, optical components have found diverse applications, spanning from semiconductors to the aerospace industry. A reflective mirror is a basic component in optics and plays a crucial role as the medium to reflect light. In this paper, a large mirror with a 700mm diameter was designed as a primary mirror using fused silica. The rear side of the mirror was subdivided into several equal angles, and neighboring vertices on the circumference were connected to establish a polygon. Accordingly, the geometric shapes of triangle, square, pentagon, and hexagon were formed. Furthermore, the mirror structure was strengthened by employing straight lines passing the vertices and the center of the circle. Based on the finite element analysis, deformations of the mirrors caused by the gravitational force were evaluated. Weight and deformation of the mirror structures were compared and analyzed to find a proper structure to reduce weight and deformation. This paper, therefore, presents a structural solution aimed at reducing the weight and deformation of a large aperture mirror induced by gravitational forces, thereby suggesting a geometric shape based structure to reduce surface deformation of a mirror.

In general, a large mirror without weight reduction in large optical or space telescope systems can increase the system’s weight or lead to significant deformation of the mirror surface. Thus, it is imperative to pursue lightweight design strategies. In this paper, the structure design of a spherical mirror, a diameter of 600mm and a mirror radius of 2,000mm, was investigated to reduce weight and minimize deformation. To establish load paths for internal and external loads, stiffeners were added across the lateral supports. This approach effectively reduced both weight and deformation caused by gravity. Weight reduction and reduction percentages were quantified, and the mirror deformation was evaluated by using finite element analysis (FEA). The proposed structures were compared with honeycomb structures for weight reduction. This evaluation allowed to assess the deformation characteristics and the potential advantages of the proposed structures for lightweight mirrors.

Zerodur, one of the optical materials, was used for large spherical mirrors in this study. For weight reduction, several types of honeycomb structures were investigated. The finite element simulation was used for deformation and mode analysis. It was revealed that the weight reduction rate and maximum deflection due to the gravity effect vary depending on the honeycomb structures. Additionally, this study highlights the potential of spline-shaped honeycomb structures as an alternative for weight reduction, and triangular honeycomb structures demonstrated the less deformation by the gravity effect. The findings from this study provide valuable insights for designing lightweight and high-performance spherical mirrors in optical systems.