Selective reinforcement of a 2m-class lightweight mirror for horizontal beam optical testing

R. W. Besuner; K. P. Chow; S. E. Kendrick; S. Streetman

doi:10.1117/12.787477

23 July 2008 Selective reinforcement of a 2m-class lightweight mirror for horizontal beam optical testing

R. W. Besuner, K. P. Chow, S. E. Kendrick, S. Streetman

Proceedings Volume 7018, Advanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation; 701816 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787477
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

Optical testing of large mirrors for space telescopes can be challenging and complex. Demanding optical requirements necessitate both precise mirror figure and accurate prediction of zero gravity shape. Mass and packaging constraints require mirrors to be lightweighted and optically fast. Reliability and low mass imply simple mounting schemes, with basic kinematic mounts preferable to active figure control or whiffle trees. Ground testing should introduce as little uncertainty as possible, ideally employing flight mounts without offloaders. Testing mirrors with their optical axes horizontal can result in less distortion than in the vertical orientation, though distortion will increase with mirror speed. Finite element modeling and optimization tools help specify selective reinforcement of the mirror structure to minimize wavefront errors in a one gravity test, while staying within mass budgets and meeting other requirements. While low distortions are necessary, an important additional criterion is that designs are tolerant to imperfect positioning of the mounts relative to the neutral surface of the mirror substrate. In this paper, we explore selective reinforcement of a 2-meter class, f/1.25 primary mirror for the proposed SNAP space telescope. We specify designs optimized for various mount radial locations both with and without backup mount locations. Reinforced designs are predicted to have surface distortions in the horizontal beam test low enough to perform optical testing on the ground, on flight mounts, and without offloaders. Importantly, the required accuracy of mount locations is on the order of millimeters rather than tenths of millimeters.

Citation Download Citation

R. W. Besuner, K. P. Chow, S. E. Kendrick, and S. Streetman "Selective reinforcement of a 2m-class lightweight mirror for horizontal beam optical testing", Proc. SPIE 7018, Advanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation, 701816 (23 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.787477

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