Optical table

An optical table is a vibration control platform that is used to support systems used for laser- and optics-related experiments in science, engineering and manufacturing.

The surfaces of these tables are designed to be very rigid with minimum deflection so that the alignment of optical elements remains stable over time.

As a result, optical tables are typically very heavy and incorporate vibration isolation and damping features in their structure.

Modern optical tables are typically made of top and bottom sheets of steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber, separated by a thick honeycomb lattice structure.

For even more accurate setups, one also prevents air movements and temperature gradients by enclosing the surface in a box of transparent plastic such as Plexiglas.

As with granite's composite structure, the combination of several stiff materials with different speeds of sound produces a table for which a wide range of vibrations are critically damped.

Most optical breadboards are constructed from steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber sheets with honeycomb structure and can be placed on an ordinary table or workbench.

The honeycomb structure reduces bending due to the breadboard's own weight, so it can be tilted and forces applied via the soft spring supports accelerate the table as a whole without misalignment.