A new concept for large deformable mirrors for extremely large telescopes

Summary, in English

For extremely large telescopes, there is strong need for thin deformable mirrors in the 3-4 m class. So far, feasibility of such mirrors has not been demonstrated. Extrapolation from existing techniques suggests that the mirrors could be highly expensive. We give a progress report on a study of an approach for construction of large deformable mirrors with a moderate cost. We have developed low-cost actuators and deflection sensors that can absorb mounting tolerances in the millimeter range, and we have tested prototypes in the laboratory. Studies of control laws for mirrors with thousands of sensors and actuators are in good progress and simulations have been carried out. Manufacturing of thin, glass mirror blanks is being studied and first prototypes have been produced by a slumping technique. Development of polishing procedures for thin mirrors is in progress

• Författare: Torben Andersen; Mette Owner-Petersen; Arne Ardeberg; T Korhonen
• Avdelning/ar: Astronomi - Genomgår omorganisation
• Publiceringsår: 2006
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 324-331
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Proceedings of the SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
• Volym: 6272
• Issue: 1
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.671506
• Dokumenttyp: Konferensbidrag
• Förlag: SPIE
• Ämne: Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
• Nyckelord: glass mirror; slumping technique; mounting tolerance; deflection sensor; low-cost actuator; extrapolation; extremely large telescope; large deformable mirror; adaptive optics; telescope; 3 to 4 m; polishing
• Conference name: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation - Advances in Adaptive Optics II, 2006
• Conference date: 2006-05-24 - 2006-05-31
• Conference place: Orlando, FL, United States
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 0277-786X; ISSN: 1996-756X