Liquid mirrors: a new technology for optical designers

Simon Thibault; Ermanno F. Borra

doi:10.1117/12.321989

21 September 1998 Liquid mirrors: a new technology for optical designers

Simon Thibault, Ermanno F. Borra

Proceedings Volume 3482, International Optical Design Conference 1998; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.321989
Event: International Optical Design Conference, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

The surface of a spinning liquid takes the shape of a paraboloid that can be used as a reflecting mirror. Liquid mirrors have many characteristics that make them useful for optical applications: low costs, large sizes, excellent optical qualities, possibility of very high or very low numerical apertures, low scattered light, etc... The largest mirror built so far has a diameter of 3.7 meters. The largest mirror that has been extensively tested has a diameter of 2.5 meters. Interferometric tests show that it is diffraction limited. We discuss several technical issues related to liquid mirrors. A handful of liquid mirrors have now been built that are used for scientific work. We briefly discuss a practical application of liquid mirrors: We built and tested a telecentric f-θ 3D scanner that uses a liquid mirror as its objective. The prototype has a stand- off distance of 1.5 meters, a scan length up to 1 meter (telecentric), a depth of view of 1 meter and a relative depth resolution of 1 mm or less. The design is based on the auto-synchronized scanner and is f-(theta) corrected for field scanning distortion. We therefore claim that the liquid mirror technology gives a new tool to the optical designer.

Citation Download Citation

Simon Thibault and Ermanno F. Borra "Liquid mirrors: a new technology for optical designers", Proc. SPIE 3482, International Optical Design Conference 1998, (21 September 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.321989

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