Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993apj...418..943b&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal v.418, p.943
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
17
Instrumentation: Miscellaneous, Techniques: Interferometric, Telescopes
Scientific paper
We report the results of optical tests of a f/1.2 2.5 m diameter liquid mirror. Interferometric tests carried out with a scatterplate interferometer show rms surface deviation values of ˜λ/20 and Strehl ratios of order 0.7, close to the value of 0.8 usually taken to signify that diffraction limit has been reached. The mirror is certainly better than implied by the data because the interferograms were taken with 1/30 s exposures and the wave- fronts therefore include the effects of seeing in the testing tower. We have imaged an artificial star and observed the diffraction pattern of the telescope, in agreement with the results of the interferometry. We have videotaped hours of interferogram and PSF (point-spread function) observations that show that those that we present are representative. Direct observations of the PSF show that the mirror does not suffer an excessive amount of scattered light. With the demonstration of this mirror, we have reached a significant milestone since a 2.5 m diameter is a world-class size and success with such a fast system all but guarantees that a slower 4 m mirror should be feasible.
Borra Ermanno F.
Content Robert
Girard Luc
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