Fabrication of large optical surfaces using a combination of polishing and mirror bending

Terry S. Mast; Jerry E. Nelson

doi:10.1117/12.19234

1 July 1990 Fabrication of large optical surfaces using a combination of polishing and mirror bending

Terry S. Mast, Jerry E. Nelson

Proceedings Volume 1236, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes IV; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19234
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1990, Tucson, AZ, United States

Abstract

In order to reduce polishing costs and correct unexpected errors in fabrication and polishing, the support of very large optics can be actively enlisted in telescope mirror optical figure adjustment. A set of leaf springs is used by the Keck Ten-Meter Telescope to apply moments about the pivots of the mirror mosaics' whiffletree support. The springs successfully reduce the polished rms surface error by a factor of 6 to 15, while reducing the 80-percent enclosed energy diameter by a factor of 2.5-6.0. Additional current limitations on figure improvement include the difficulties of polishing higher spatial frequencies and predicting warping during mirror fabrication.

Citation Download Citation

Terry S. Mast and Jerry E. Nelson "Fabrication of large optical surfaces using a combination of polishing and mirror bending", Proc. SPIE 1236, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes IV, (1 July 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19234

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