Beam Expander Apparatus

Abstract

A beam expander apparatus includes a parabolic primary mirror that has a continuous surface. The continuous surface is configured to reflect, at least twice, a light beam. The parabolic primary mirror is further configured to deliver the light beam, in an expanded form, to a target object. The apparatus also includes a parabolic secondary mirror arranged with an orientation relative to the parabolic primary mirror. The parabolic secondary mirror has a continuous surface configured to reflect, at least twice, the light beam. The parabolic secondary mirror is further configured to receive the light beam via a port of the parabolic primary mirror.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beam expander apparatus comprising:
 a parabolic primary mirror having a continuous surface configured to reflect, at least twice, a light beam, the parabolic primary mirror further configured to deliver the light beam, in an expanded form, to a target object; and   a parabolic secondary mirror arranged with an orientation relative to the parabolic primary mirror, the parabolic secondary mirror having a continuous surface configured to reflect, at least twice, the light beam, the parabolic secondary mirror further configured to receive the light beam via a port of the parabolic primary mirror.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the parabolic primary and secondary mirrors is further configured to reflect the light beam at least three times. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further defined by an aspect ratio of a mirror separation between the respective continuous surfaces of the parabolic primary and secondary mirrors divided by a diameter of the parabolic primary mirror, and wherein the aspect ratio is in a range of about 0.3 to about 3.0. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the aspect ratio is in a range of about 0.3 to about 2.0. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the aspect ratio is in a range of about 0.3 to about 1.2. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the aspect ratio is in a range of about 0.8 to about 1.2. 
     
     
         7 . A beam director system comprising the beam expander apparatus of  claim 1 , the beam director system further comprising one or more actuators configured to slew the beam expander apparatus angularly for repeated directing of the light beam in expanded form toward the target object, with relative motion between the beam director system and the target object.