Name

Imagine Optic

Legal name

Imagine Optic

Website

https://imagine-optic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical Metrology & Adaptive Optics Instrumentation

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Machine Vision & Inspection Lighting (Ring lights, bar lights, backlights, strobed illumination) (IMAGAIAG), Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF)

Keywords

• Wavefront sensing instruments
• Adaptive optics systems
• Shack-Hartmann sensors
• Optical metrology platforms
• Deformable mirrors

Headquarters

HQ city

Orsay

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Systems (Wavefront Sensors, Metrology Systems, AO Platforms): Sale of proprietary optical instruments including Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors (HASO family), LIFT phase-retrieval sensors, deformable mirrors, metrology systems (R-FLEX, OEC), and adaptive optics platforms (CIAO). Products are sold as complete instruments with embedded software. Pricing is quotation-based and highly customized to application requirements. This is the primary revenue driver.
2. Software Licenses and Updates: Bundled software (WaveView included with all sensors) and optional paid modules (WAVETUNE, WAVESKY, WAVEKIT SDK, MTF/PSF extensions). Software delivered with hardware purchases; optional advanced features and SDK available separately.
3. Services (Recalibration, Support, Custom Integration): Wavefront sensor recalibration service (offered both remotely and at factory), technical support contracts, and custom integration/consulting for specific application deployments. ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management supports service contracts.
4. Acquisition of Karthala System: December 2025 acquisition of Karthala System, a company specializing in multiphoton microscopy and creator of the AODscope fast acousto-optic two-photon microscope. Integration combines Karthala System's multiphoton imaging technology with mu-Imagine's deformable mirror and AO expertise, expanding Imagine Optic's product portfolio and bioimaging market presence.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Imagine Optic designs, manufactures, and sells wavefront sensors, deformable mirrors, and adaptive optics platforms used to measure and correct optical wavefront distortions in scientific, industrial, and defense applications. The company sells complete instruments (HASO Shack-Hartmann sensors, LIFT phase-retrieval sensors, R-FLEX metrology systems, CIAO adaptive optics systems, MIRAO/ILAO STAR/muDM deformable mirrors) bundled with proprietary software (WaveView, WaveTune, WaveKit SDK), supported by recalibration services.

Product overview

Imagine Optic is a French company specializing in wavefront sensing, optical metrology, and adaptive optics since 1996. The product portfolio centers on the HASO family of Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors, complemented by LIFT phase retrieval wavefront sensors (offering 16x higher spatial resolution), and the Optical Engineer Companion (OEC) modular metrology system with 800+ configuration combinations. The offering includes metrology platforms (R-FLEX, R-FLEX SWIR, R-FLEX LA, caM², MESO), adaptive optics systems (CIAO VIS/SWIR, MICAO 3DSR, AO KIT BIO), deformable mirrors (ILAO STAR, MIRAO 52ES, muDM), and supporting software (WAVEVIEW, WAVETUNE, WAVEKIT SDK, WAVESQUARED, WAVESKY). In December 2025, Imagine Optic acquired Karthala System and its AODscope multiphoton microscope, expanding into bioimaging. The company serves markets including astronomy, defense, semiconductors, automotive/LiDAR, quantum computing, and microscopy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HASO: Family of Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors including multiple models for VIS, NIR, SWIR, DUV, EUV, and HXR applications.
• LIFT
• R-FLEX
• R-FLEX SWIR
• CIAO
• MIRAO
• ILAO STAR
• mu-DM
• OEC (Optical Engineer Companion)
• caM²
• MESO
• mu-Imagine

Products and services

• HASO SWIR FAST High-speed Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor operating at 4.5 kHz in the 1-1.7 µm SWIR spectrum with internal calibration for simplified integration into optical benches, used for atmospheric turbulence and free-space optical communications.
• HASO SWIR Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor based on an InGaAs camera offering high accuracy, large dynamic range, and high-speed acquisition in the 980-1650 nm SWIR spectrum, featuring SpotTracker alignment-free operation.
• HASO4 FAST High-speed Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor operating at 1 kHz with a state-of-the-art CMOS camera, offering unequaled accuracy, high linearity, and insensitivity to vibration for atmospheric turbulence and free-space optical communications.
• HASO4 VIS Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor for visible wavelengths (400-750 nm) with high sampling density and large analysis pupil.
• HASO4 BROADBAND Versatile Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor with wide VIR-NIR calibrated spectral range (350-1100 nm), medium-sized pupil, and good acquisition frequency for laboratory and adaptive optics applications.
• HASO4 126 BROADBAND Premium Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor with wide VIR-NIR calibrated spectral range (350-1100 nm), high sampling density (170x126 microlenses), and large 13.8x10.2 mm analysis pupil for freeform optics and parabolic mirror characterization.
• HASO4 FIRST Cost-effective Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor with factory calibration, high wavefront measurement performance, and advanced software capabilities for adaptive optics microscopy, UHIL, OEM and industrial applications.
• HASO DUV Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor for deep ultraviolet spectral range (190-410 nm), designed for lithography, semiconductor manufacturing, laser fusion, and excimer laser-based applications.
• HASO EUV Wavefront sensor for extreme ultraviolet (4-40 nm) beam characterization, HHG, synchrotron, and EUV-FEL applications, developed in collaboration with LOA laboratory and SOLEIL synchrotron.
• HASO HXR Broadband Hard X-Ray wavefront sensor for synchrotron and XFEL beamline alignment, focal spot optimization, and live beamline characterization at wavelength.
• HASO LP Large pupil Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor with 22x22 mm analysis pupil for direct wavefront sensing of large diameter beams without relay optics.
• LIFT SWIR 160 High-resolution phase retrieval wavefront sensor in the 980-1650 nm SWIR spectrum based on InGaAs camera, featuring SpotTracker technology and 16x spatial resolution improvement over standard Shack-Hartmann.
• LIFT 680 Premium ultra-high resolution phase retrieval wavefront sensor for visible wavelengths (400-750 nm) with 680x504 phase point resolution and large dynamic range.
• LIFT 272 High-resolution phase retrieval wavefront sensor offering 16x spatial resolution improvement over standard Shack-Hartmann for optical testing and mid-spatial frequency error measurement.
• LIFT LP 512 Large pupil (22 mm) phase retrieval wavefront sensor with 512x512 phase point resolution for direct testing of large beams without relay optics, operating in 400-1100 nm range.
• Optical Engineer Companion (OEC) Modular optical metrology system offering 800+ combinations of HASO wavefront sensors, R-FLEX platforms, and accessories for VIS-NIR and SWIR applications with no alignment required, no optical table needed, and instant reconfiguration.
• R-FLEX Second-generation versatile optical metrology system combining HASO wavefront sensors (400-1100 nm) with collimator and light source for lab and industrial optical characterization.
• R-FLEX SWIR Versatile optical metrology system in the 1000-1700 nm SWIR range combining HASO SWIR or LIFT SWIR 160 wavefront sensors with collimator and light source.
• R-FLEX LA Large aperture collimating platform extending R-FLEX capabilities to large optics (30-200 mm beam diameter) for analyzing filters, dichroic beam splitters, head-up displays, eyewear, and optical windows.
• caM² (CAM SQUARED) Compact laser beam quality (M²) measurement system performing one-shot acquisition with no alignment or translation stages required.
• MESO Fizeau-like interferometry metrology system for at-wavelength testing of flat optics (1.5-6 inches), insensitive to vibrations with parallel optics testing capability, operating at 405-830 nm.
• MS-LAMBDA Metrology source accessory for Imagine Optic optical metrology systems.
• CIAO VIS Compact adaptive optics add-on for ground-based telescopes (200 mm-1 m diameter, f/8-f/22) operating in the visible spectrum (400-1100 nm) for high-resolution planetary imaging, solar observation, and space situational awareness.
• CIAO SWIR Compact adaptive optics system for satellite communication and free-space optical links in the SWIR range (1-1.7 µm), improving optical link up to 3.5 kHz closed loop.
• MICAO 3DSR Microscope-interfaced adaptive optics system for deep PALM super-resolution microscopy.
• AO KIT BIO Adaptive optics kit for microscopy applications enabling high-resolution bioimaging.
• AO KIT Mechanical DM Adaptive optics kit based on the ILAO STAR mechanical deformable mirror for microscopy applications.
• ILAO STAR Electromagnetic deformable mirror optimized for ultra-high intensity laser applications where stability and large diameters are more important than speed.
• MIRAO 52ES Electromagnetic deformable mirror with 52 actuators for open-loop adaptive optics in microscopy, featuring exceptional long-term stability with less than 10 nm RMS drift after 12 hours.
• muDM Compact deformable mirror designed for microscopy and bio-imaging with high optical quality, linearity, and stability, easy system integration, and large dynamic range.
• WaveView Bundled wavefront measurement and analysis software with 150+ features and tools including MTF, 3D PSF, and M-squared calculations for optical metrology applications.
• WaveTune Optional software combining wavefront measurement and correction features with extensive diagnostics for HASO/LIFT sensors and deformable mirrors.
• WaveSquared M² factor analysis software for laser beam quality measurement.
• WaveKit SDK Software Development Kit in C/C++, LabVIEW, and Python providing basis blocks for building customized HASO-based applications or WaveView data processing routines.
• Wavefront Sensor Recalibration Service Factory and remote recalibration service for Imagine Optic wavefront sensors, supported by ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management.

Quantifiable outcome

• GAIA telescope alignment achieved 50 nm optical quality
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, primary and minor.

• Karthala SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2025Imagine Optic acquired Karthala System, a specialized company in multiphoton microscopy and creator of the AODscope fast acousto-optic two-photon microscope for neuroscience research. The acquisition integrates Karthala System's multiphoton imaging technology with Imagine Optic's mu-Imagine deformable mirror and adaptive optics expertise, forming what President Samuel Bucourt called 'the best technological offer on the two-photon microscopy market.' Benjamin Mathieu, co-founder of Karthala System, commented that the partnership provides access to new expertise and Imagine Optic's industrial experience.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 March 2021Imagine Optic has been contracted by ESA since Summer 2021 to design an optical bench (codenamed OBSERVE) to characterize the dichroic beam-splitter of the EUCLID telescope, which maps dark matter throughout the universe. The bench will perform reflected wavefront analysis with accuracy exceeding 1 nm RMS, installed at the Laboratoire des Matériaux Avancés de Lyon. EUCLID's mission requires precise wavelength separation across its VIS instrument (500-950 nm).
• Airbus Defense and Space (formerly Astrium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirbus Defense and Space (then Astrium) selected Imagine Optic's R-FLEX optical metrology system for the critical alignment of the two three-mirror anastigmatic telescopes of the GAIA space observatory. The R-FLEX was used in a double-pass configuration with wavefront measurements compared to a CODE V predictive model to achieve the necessary 50 nm optical quality. GAIA maps approximately one billion stars in 3D.
• NANOLITE (CEA-Imagine Optic Joint Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNANOLITE is a joint collaboration laboratory established in January 2020 between LIDYL CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) and Imagine Optic, dedicated to Extreme UV metrology. The joint lab developed the novel NANOLITE optical metrology platform for EUV, which entered its operational phase in late 2022.
• mu-Imagine (subsidiary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnermu-Imagine is Imagine Optic's microscopy-dedicated division, specializing in deformable mirrors and adaptive optics solutions for bioimaging applications. mu-Imagine combines its AO expertise with the Karthala System acquisition to form a unified microscopy AO product line.
• Axiom Optics (US Distributor)primaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAxiom Optics serves as Imagine Optic's authorized distributor for the US and Canada market. Located in Somerville, MA, Axiom Optics represents Imagine Optic's products to North American customers and provides regional sales and support.
• University of Rochester — Institute of OpticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with University of Rochester's Institute of Optics, led by Jannick Rolland's group, using R-FLEX/HASO/WAVEVIEW for optical telescope alignment research. PhD student Niko Romer's work resulted in a publication in Optics Express and demonstrated the R-FLEX's capabilities for rapid full-field wavefront measurement.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PHASICS: PHASICS is a French wavefront metrology company specializing in quadriwave lateral shearing interferometry for wavefront measurement. It directly competes with Imagine Optic's HASO Shack-Hartmann and LIFT sensors in laser characterization, microscopy, and optical testing applications.
• ALPAO: ALPAO is a French company specializing in deformable mirrors and adaptive optics systems for astronomy, microscopy, and ophthalmology. It competes directly with Imagine Optic's ILAO STAR and MIRAO deformable mirror lines and integrated AO platforms for astronomy and life sciences.
• Iris AO: Iris AO designs and manufactures segmented and continuous-surface deformable mirrors for adaptive optics in astronomy, microscopy, and laser applications. It is a direct competitor in the deformable mirror category where Imagine Optic's MIRAO, ILAO STAR, and muDM products compete.
• Adaptive Optics Associates (AOA): AOA is a developer of Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors and adaptive optics systems, with deep historical roots in astronomical and defense AO applications. It competes with Imagine Optic on the wavefront sensor and AO platform side, particularly in US astronomy and defense accounts.

Broad incumbents

• Thorlabs: Thorlabs is the dominant broad-line photonics equipment and components supplier, with an extensive catalog that includes Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors, adaptive optics components, and metrology systems. It competes with Imagine Optic on price, breadth, and distribution scale across nearly all of Imagine Optic's served markets.
• Zygo (AMETEK): Zygo, part of AMETEK, is a leading manufacturer of optical metrology instruments, particularly interferometers, that overlap with Imagine Optic's high-precision wavefront measurement offerings for semiconductor, aerospace, and optics manufacturing customers.
• Edmund Optics: Edmund Optics is a broad-line optics supplier offering wavefront sensors, metrology components, and OEM optical assemblies. It overlaps with Imagine Optic in industrial optical testing and serves many of the same end markets with a much larger catalog and global distribution footprint.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu is a major Japanese photonics manufacturer offering wavefront measurement modules, detectors, and OEM optical components. It competes with Imagine Optic in semiconductor and life sciences instrumentation where integrated detector-plus-optics modules are sold to OEMs.

Emerging players

• Optics in Motion (OIM): Optics in Motion specializes in large-aperture deformable mirrors and adaptive optics for laser beam shaping and directed energy applications. It competes with Imagine Optic's ILAO STAR line in the high-power laser and beam shaping niches.
• 4D Technology (Ondax): 4D Technology is a specialist in dynamic interferometry and surface metrology, including Shack-Hartmann-based wavefront sensors used in industrial and aerospace testing. It competes with Imagine Optic's HASO and R-FLEX offerings for at-wavelength and vibration-tolerant optical metrology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnSSNhug0RWhGF3JVonTWXw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imagine-optic
• Instagraminstagram.com/wavefrontrunners
• Xx.com/ImagineOptic

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Imagine Optic