LOW COST LIGHT WEIGHT MIRROR BLANK

摘要

An inexpensive lightweight mirror blank having good dimensional stability, and a method of making the same is provided. The mirror blank includes an extruded ceramic honeycomb core and a faceplate bonded or otherwise affixed to the front surface of the core. The extruded honeycomb core is comprised of a matrix of cell walls defining an array of cells, with the number of cells being greater than about 16 cells per square inch, to render the core extremely light in weight yet sufficiently rigid and strong to support the optical faceplate. The faceplate is formed from a material that is capable of being polished to an optical surface. An optional back plate can be bonded or otherwise affixed to the back surface of the core in order to improve stiffness and mechanical stability of the mirror blank.