Fundamentals of Optomechanics

Paul Yoder (BS physics, Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, 1947, and MS physics, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 1950) learned optical design and opto-mechanical engineering at the U.S. Army’s Frankford Arsenal (1951–1961). He then applied those skills at Perkin-Elmer Corporation (1961–1986) and served the optical community as a consultant in optical and opto-mechanical engineering (1986–2006). A fellow of the OSA and SPIE, Yoder has authored numerous chapters on opto-mechanics, published more than 60 papers, been awarded 14 U.S. and several foreign patents, and taught more than 75 short courses for SPIE, U.S. government agencies, and industry.Daniel Vukobratovich is senior principal multidisciplinary engineer at Raytheon Systems, Tucson, Arizona, and adjunct professor at the University of Arizona. He has authored more than 50 papers, taught short courses in opto-mechanics in 12 different countries, and consulted for more than 40 companies. A SPIE fellow, he is a founding member of the opto-mechanics working group. He holds international patents and received an IR-100 award for work on metal matrix composite optical materials. He led development on a series of ultra-lightweight telescopes using new materials, and worked on space telescope systems for STS-95, Mars Observer, Mars Global Surveyor, and FUSE.

"This book addresses a pressing need for tools to teach optomechanical engineering at the University level. It also serves as a valuable reference work for practicing engineers. Organized into chapters on each of the engineer's tasks, from system-level assessments to component mounting, it flows logically through the mechanical design process.… it is a rich introduction to the art of optomechanical design."—Alson E. Hatheway Incorporated, Pasadena, California, USA"This book was written by the two most renowned specialists in optomechanics. The text is skillfully written to be understood easily while covering all the most important aspect of the optomechanical field. The material presented in the book is backed up with tutorial examples and exercises, thus distinguishing itself from other reference books in optomechanics intended to be used by practicing engineers. This textbook is an exceptional legacy of the fathers of optomechanics for the new generation of optomechanical engineers."—Frédéric Lamontagne, INO, Quebec City, Canada"It’s a terrific introduction into the field of optomechanical engineering that will allow novices and experienced engineers the prerequisite background and understanding of the highly integrated and complex engineering that is required to design and build a high precision optical system."—Keith B. Doyle, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, Massachusetts, United States"Yoder and Vukobratovich do an exceptional job of creating content that is introductory at heart, but thorough enough to be useful and practical in application. It is unusual to get an engineering perspective woven into theory but they skillfully include both. Optomechanics is such a critical cross-discipline field for optics and it is unfortunately woefully underserved by the talent pipeline. An introductory text like this would be well-served to be on shelves of both optical and mechanical engineers in order to address the gap between the two disciplines."—Katie Schwertz, Edmund Optics, Tucson, Arizona, USA"The book would be ideal as a textbook for graduate students with some knowledge of both optics and mechanical engineering, or for practitioners in the field."--Bogdan Hoanca, a professor of management information systems at the University of Alaska Anchorage, USA

• Introduction. Opto-Mechanical Design Process. Materials Selection. Principles of Kinematic Design. Mounting Windows. Mounting Individual Lenses. Mounting Multiple Lens Assemblies. Techniques for Mounting Prisms. Factors Affecting Mirror Performance. Design and Mounting of Small Mirrors. Design and Mounting of Metallic Mirrors. Appendices. Tables of Material Properties. Environmental Tables. References.