Surface error correction of a Keck 10-m telescope primary mirror segment by ion figuring

Physics – Optics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

1

Scientific paper

The ion figuring process has been successfully used to correct the residual surface figure error on a 1.8 m ZerodurTM off-axis segment of the new Keck telescope primary mirror. The segment is one of 36 hexagonal mirror segments composing the full aperture of the 10 m primary mirror. Ion figuring is an optical fabrication method that provides highly deterministic error correction of previously polished optical surfaces using a directed, inert, and neutralized Argon ion beam to physically sputter material from the surface. Figure error correction is accomplished by varying the velocity of the constant-output ion source as it scans across the optic surface. The surface figure error was reduced from 0.726 micrometers rms to 0.090 micrometers rms in two test-figure iterations. The demonstration provided information and requirements for future processing of ZerodurTM and other glass-ceramic materials, and clearly showed the applicability of ion beam figuring to the final correction of large, complex optics.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Surface error correction of a Keck 10-m telescope primary mirror segment by ion figuring does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Surface error correction of a Keck 10-m telescope primary mirror segment by ion figuring, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Surface error correction of a Keck 10-m telescope primary mirror segment by ion figuring will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-940824

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.