Mirror Mount, Optical Delay Line

The 9848 Optical Delay Line Mirror Mount is an easy-to-use, versatile fixture for creating an optical delay line. It has two orthogonal surfaces for mounting standard mirrors, allowing an input optical beam to be reflected back, parallel to itself. This low-cost mount simplifies the assembly of an optical delay line by virtually eliminating the time-consuming task of mirror alignment, owing to the precision orthogonal surfaces (30 arc sec., identifiable by the hatched pattern). Notwithstanding, the 9848 is a significantly less expensive alternative to the wavelength-bound retroreflector. Retroreflectors exist typically as solid glass (prohibitive for most delay lines) or with metallic coating, which have substantial losses. A key advantage of this mount is that you can use any mirror coating, including dielectric. The 9848 is versatile because it holds various sizes, shapes and thicknesses of mirrors and allows variable spacing between the input and output beams up to 2 in. (50 mm). Guide lines set at 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) increments are provided to assist in setting beam spacing. The 9848 can be mounted directly to a translation stage via a centralized hole counterbored for 1/4-20 (M6) cap head screws or pedestal-post mounted on a SR- or PS-series post.