I-Photonics UAB

A recent 1550 nm long-range LiDAR implementation demonstrated how component-level optical optimization can significantly enhance overall system performance. By upgrading a single 45° field-of-view mirror, the system achieved a 13% increase in detection range — extending performance from 15 km to 17 km — without any changes to the laser source or receiver electronics. The custom mirror was manufactured on a 200 mm diameter, 25 mm thick Zerodur® substrate to ensure high thermal stability and mechanical rigidity. A 6.6 µm multilayer dielectric coating was applied to provide >99.9% reflectivity at 1550 nm for both S- and P-polarizations with matched phase response, ensuring polarization-insensitive operation and uniform signal fidelity across the full aperture. To maintain surface accuracy and optical uniformity, stress-compensation was implemented on the backside of the optic, minimizing deformation typically associated with thick multilayer coatings on large substrates. The coating was deposited using Ion Beam Sputtering (IBS), enabling precise layer control, ultra-low scattering losses, reduced intrinsic stress, and high surface cleanliness (20-10 class). The result is a higher-fidelity return signal and a measurable 2 km extension in detection range, demonstrating how precision optical design and advanced coating engineering directly translate into system-level gains for LiDAR, remote sensing, and advanced photonic applications. I-Photonics UAB designs and manufactures high-performance custom optical components for demanding photonic systems worldwide.