Mechanical and optical analysis of large-aperture optics mounted on a frame with a curved surface

Motivated by the need to decrease gravitational sag and stress and increase the frequency conversion efficiency of large-aperture optics, a novel mounting configuration in which a set of optics is mechanically mounted to a frame with a curved surface was developed and mechanically and optically analyzed. The effects of an external load on distortion, stress and the induced frequency conversion efficiency were studied, and the changes in these values with varying external load were assessed to determine the optimum mounting configuration. Additionally, the effects of the frame surface topography on distortion, stress and the induced frequency conversion efficiency were studied. The optimum values for distortion, stress and the induced frequency conversion efficiency were determined for different topographies.