OPTICAL ASSEMBLY THAT OPERATES AT EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSIENTS

1 . A method for making an optic that is operable in extreme temperature environments, the method comprising:

selecting a material for each of a plurality of mirror panels based on a parameter comprising at least one of a thermal diffusivity, a thermal conductivity, a specific heat, chemistry, and polishability;

selecting a type of assembly of an optic;

selecting a geometric configuration for each of the plurality of mirror panels;

aligning optically each of the plurality of mirror panels; and

assembling each of the plurality of mirror panels in optical alignment such that each mirror panel is within a predetermined angular tolerance,

wherein the assembling further comprises fusing the material of at least one of the plurality of mirror panels to make the optic of the selected type of assembly.

2 . A method for making an optic that is operable in extreme temperature environments, the method comprising:

selecting a material for each of a plurality of parts of an optic based on a parameter comprising at least one of a thermal diffusivity, a thermal conductivity, a specific heat, chemistry, and polishability;

selecting a type of assembly of the optic;

selecting a geometric configuration for each of the plurality of parts of the optic;

aligning optically each of the plurality of parts of the optic; and

assembling each of the plurality of parts of the optic in optical alignment such that each part is within a predetermined angular tolerance,

wherein the assembling further comprises fusing the material of at least one of the plurality of parts of the optic to form the selected type of assembly of the optic.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of parts of the optic has a joining edge.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the fusing comprises a continuous fused line along the joining edge of the at least one of the plurality of parts.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the fusing comprises one or more discrete fused spots along the joining edge of the at least one of the plurality of parts.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the selected type of assembly is a monolithic structure.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the assembling further comprises fusing the material of the at least one of the plurality of parts of the optic to form the monolithic structure.

8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:

each of the plurality of parts of the optic has a joining edge;

the selected type of assembly is a monolithic structure; and

the assembling further comprises fusing the material of each of the plurality of parts of the optic at the joining edge to form the monolithic structure.

9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the material is selected based on the thermal diffusivity, the thermal conductivity, the specific heat, the chemistry, and the polishability.

10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of parts of the optic comprise a connecting mechanism.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a connecting plate having a square-shape cross section.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the assembling further comprises fusing a joining edge of the connecting mechanism to another part of the plurality of parts of the optic to form the selected type of assembly of the optic.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a connecting plate having a rectangular-shape cross section.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the connecting plate includes a plurality of mounting features.

15 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the joining edge includes a beveled contact surface.

16 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the joining edge includes a non-beveled contact surface.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the non-beveled contact surface includes a non-mirror portion of a first one of the plurality of parts of the optic.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first one of the plurality of parts of the optic is a mirror panel.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of parts comprises three mirror panels, including said mirror panel.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first one of the plurality of parts of the optic is a mirror panel and the non-beveled portion comprises a planar contact surface perpendicular to a mirror face of the mirror panel.