On the Fabrication of a High-Quality Optical Surface of an Amorphous Nickel Coating on a Beryllium Substrate

Abstract

The physical and mechanical properties of modern materials used for manufacturing optical-electronic space-based devices ensuring a high mirror roughness at a level of R_a = 1 nm are analyzed. The deposition of nickel obtained as a result of nickel reduction from aqueous solutions by the chemical method on a beryllium substrate to obtain an amorphous structure is studied. The coating is analyzed by X-ray methods. The phase and chemical composition of the coating is determined and its thickness is measured. The amorphous structure of the coating is confirmed. The coating has a high chemical resistance and hardness and provides conditions for effective optical polishing. Regulation of the chemical composition during the deposition process allows thermal matching of the coating with the substrate to be achieved.