Metallic Mirrors for Precision Beam Control

Metal Coated Concave Mirror

Metal Coated Concave Mirror

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Sold by: Union Optic Ships from: China
Specifications
Reflective Coating: Protected Aluminum, Protected Silver, Protected Gold
Substrate: BK7, Fused Silica
Average Reflectance: 90 %
Wavelength Range: 400 – 12000 nm
Surface Flatness: lambda/4
Metal Coated Flat Mirror

Metal Coated Flat Mirror

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Sold by: Union Optic Ships from: China
Specifications
Reflective Coating: Protected Aluminum, Protected Silver, Protected Gold
Substrate: BK7, Fused Silica, UV Fused Silica
Average Reflectance: 90 %
Wavelength Range: 400 – 12000 nm
Surface Flatness: lambda/4

Did You Know?

Did you know that bare aluminum metallic mirrors typically offer about 88–92% reflectance in the visible range, but their reflectance climbs above 95% in the near-infrared, making them more efficient for IR than for visible applications? Unlike dielectric mirrors, metallic mirrors preserve polarization state more uniformly over angle and wavelength, but they introduce higher absorption losses and can generate phase shifts between s- and p-polarizations that matter in interferometric setups. A common misconception is that gold is always the "best" mirror; in fact, gold performs poorly below ~500 nm, where its reflectance can drop below 50%, so aluminum or silver are usually preferred for broadband visible use.
Read more in our Blog

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Frequently Asked Questions

A metallic mirror is an optical substrate coated with a thin metal film (commonly aluminum, silver, or gold) that reflects light via free-electron response in the metal, providing broadband but moderate reflectivity. Dielectric mirrors rely on multilayer interference coatings and can achieve very high reflectance over a narrow band, whereas metallic mirrors offer 85–99% reflectance across a much wider spectral range but with higher absorption and phase shifts that vary smoothly with wavelength.

Overview of Metallic Mirrors

Metallic Mirrors are reflective optical elements that use thin metallic coatings on glass or crystalline substrates to provide broadband reflection from UV to IR. Unlike dielectric mirrors, Metallic Mirrors offer relatively uniform reflectance over a wide spectral range with less sensitivity to angle of incidence and polarization. They are frequently used for beam steering, beam delivery, alignment, and diagnostic setups in laser and imaging systems.

Typical Specifications and Coatings

On FindLight you will find Metallic Mirrors with a variety of specifications to fit laboratory and OEM applications. Common coating materials include aluminum (Al), protected aluminum, enhanced aluminum, silver (Ag), protected silver, and gold (Au), each optimized for a different spectral region and environmental stability.

  • Diameter / Size: From a few millimeters up to several inches, including round and rectangular formats.
  • Substrates: Fused silica, N-BK7, Zerodur, silicon, copper, and other metals for high thermal conductivity.
  • Surface Quality: Typical values like 20-10 or 40-20 scratch-dig for precision imaging and laser applications.
  • Surface Flatness: From λ/10 to λ/2 at 632.8 nm, depending on required wavefront quality.
  • Reflectance: Broadband reflectivity curves specified over UV, visible, or IR bands; angle-dependent data when available.
  • Laser Damage Threshold: Specified for pulsed or CW regimes when applicable, critical for high-power laser use.
  • Mounting Options: Bare optics, kinematic mounts, and integrated mirror assemblies for Light Transport systems.

Use Cases for Metallic Mirrors

Metallic Mirrors are used in free-space optical benches, laser material processing beamlines, fluorescence and brightfield microscopes, interferometers, telescopes, and general Light Transport subsystems. Silver and enhanced aluminum coatings are typical for visible and near-IR imaging, while gold-coated mirrors are preferred for mid-IR spectroscopy and thermal imaging paths.

Buyer Guidance on FindLight

When selecting Metallic Mirrors, compare coating type, spectral range, surface flatness, surface quality, substrate material, and damage threshold against your system requirements. Verify clear aperture, mechanical dimensions, and compatibility with your existing mounts. On FindLight you can review multiple Metallic Mirrors from different vendors, compare specifications side by side, and request quotes directly from suppliers. No registration is required to send inquiries, allowing rapid technical clarification and procurement for your optical and Light Transport designs.