Imagine Optic was founded in 1996 when Xavier Levecq, specialist in wavefront measurement for adaptive optics, met Samuel Bucourt, expert in dimensional metrology.

The pair realized that their combined expertise could bring about a radical new technology that would allow users to make precise 3-D measurements using Shack-Hartmann technology H-LINE™. It became evident early on that this approach could equally be applied to other domains needing precision metrology tools.

After having brought a first series of tools to the market in 1997 and 1998, 1999 saw Imagine Optic’s launch of the first Shack-Hartmann based HASO™ wavefront sensor product line for the visible light spectrum and their first closed-loop adaptive optics platforms for the mega-joule laser project (LMJ, maquette) and SILVA (isotopic separation), quickly followed by systems for LOA and Hamamatsu.

In 2000, the product line grew with the addition of the first wavefront sensor for telecommunications applications, the HASO NIR (near infrared). Then, in 2001 we launched the HASO UV for applications in the ultraviolet spectrum.

At the end of 2002, we entered into a collaborative effort with LIXAM, SOLEIL, LOA and CXRO (Center for X-Ray Optics in Berkeley) to develop the world’s first EUV wavefront sensor for the nanolithography and synchrotron applications.

In 2003, Imagine Optic created Imagine Eyes, a joint effort between the company and leaders in the domain of adaptive optics for ophthalmic diagnosis and retinal imaging.

2005 was a remarkable year as we launched the mirao™ 52-d Electromagnetic Deformable Mirror and one the Photon d'Argent for this highly innovative product that would later have enormous success in the fields of ophthalmology and bioimaging.

In 2006, Imagine Optic saw double digit growth and wide expansion into the North American market with the success of the Boston office's opening.

2007 saw multiple product launches and enhancements. HASO was entirely revamped and HASO3 was brought to market along with HASAO Fast, the SL-Sys™ liquid, CASAO™, GENAO™ and the AOKit™ -bio.

2008 got off to a great start with the arrival of the widely acclaimed SL-Sys neo for characterizing miniature optics and objectives, and the high-resolution members of the HASO family were updated to Giga Ethernet connectivity. Also in 2008, Imagine Optic and Amplitude Technologies filed a joint patent application for a revolutionary adaptive optics optical fuse for high-pwoer lasers.

Today, Imagine Optic continues to innovate with research and development projects currently underway in freespace communications, X-EUV and other domains.

Management team

Imagine Optic has assembled one of the industry’s best management and scientific teams. We constantly strive to understand our customer’s requirements, and to provide the products and services that respond to their demands in a wide variety of applications.

Samuel Bucourt
President and CEO

Soon after his first experience as an engineer at Le Conoscope, Samuel Bucourt became an entrepreneur, co-founding Imagine Optic in association with Xavier Levecq in 1996. In the five short years following the debut of their endeavor, their company had already become an international leader as a provider of optical wavefront sensors. Samuel brings solid expertise in corporate management to Imagine Optic including sales-force organization, finance, strategic and business development, and growth management.

Xavier Levecq
Vice President and Chief Research Officer

Well before he graduated from the prestigious Ecole Supérieure d'Optique, Xavier Levecq had already started inventing and filing patents. Recruited while still at university by CILAS-EADS, he developed high-tech optronic systems for "StarWars" military applications based on advanced space optics technologies. In 1996, Xavier co-founded Imagine Optic with Samuel Bucourt. His work in technology development led to the patents and products that propelled their venture into an international success and his wavefront sensors are now recognized worldwide as the reference for optical metrology devices.

Guillaume Dovillaire
Technical Director and COO

Guillaume has over 12 years of experience in Shack-Hartmann wavefront metrology and adaptive optics. His career began after he finished his studies at the Institut d’Optique Graduate School by participating in the installation of an adaptive-optics system for a military project led by CILAS. He then joined Imagine Optic when the company was formed to contribute to the conception of the first HASO32 wavefront analyzer. The product’s commercial success offered him the opportunity to become the Product Manager for the HASO line in 2001. In this role, he managed the product family’s growth and developed the production tools used today. Since he was named CTO and Technical Director in 2004, he has managed the R&D team with the goal of maintaining HASO’s place as a market standard of reference as well as in the development of innovative new adaptive optics products.

Laurent Couvet

Production Coordinator

Laurent joined the Imagine Optic team, just several months after the company’s creation, after having worked in R&D on 10” Digital Optical Disk readers/writers. He has extensively participated in the conception of the company’s opto-mechanical products and created the production department in order to satisfy customer needs regarding order time, traceability and compliance. Currently, he is spearheading Imagine Optic’s quality control system with the goal of achieving ISO 9001 certification.

18 rue Charles de Gaulle
91400 Orsay, France

phone +33 (0) 1 64 86 15 60
fax +33 (0) 1 64 86 15 61
contact@imagine-optic.com