The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Lego Figure holding a lego telescope. Photo

Arne Ardeberg

Professor emeritus

Lego Figure holding a lego telescope. Photo

A new concept for large deformable mirrors for extremely large telescopes

Author

  • Torben Andersen
  • Mette Owner-Petersen
  • Arne Ardeberg
  • T Korhonen

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

Department/s

  • Lund Observatory - Undergoing reorganization

Publishing year

2006

Language

English

Pages

324-331

Publication/Series

Proceedings of the SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

Volume

6272

Issue

1

Document type

Conference paper

Publisher

SPIE

Topic

  • Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Keywords

  • 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/Other

  • ISSN: 0277-786X
  • ISSN: 1996-756X