How Surface Roughness and Figure Error Affect Optical Mirror Reflectance Quality
How Surface Roughness and Figure Error Affect Optical Mirror Reflectance Quality When an optical mirror underperforms, engineers usually blame the coating. But the substrate underneath often tells a different story. Surface roughness and figure error—two distinct manufacturing parameters—determine how much light a mirror reflects, how cleanly it does so, and whether it can handle demanding laser or imaging applications. Understanding the difference between them is the first step toward specifying mirrors that actually meet your system's requirements. This article explains how surface roughness and figure error affect optical mirror reflectance quality, what tolerances you should specify, and how to measure and verify both parameters before committing to a production run. We'll cover the physics behind scattering and wavefront distortion, practical inspection methods, and common specification mistakes that cost manufacturers time and money. Key Takeaways Surface roughness ...