Bimorph Deformable Mirror Adaptive Optical System

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将表明，自适应光学可以通过使其负担得起而对地面光学和红外天文学做出重大贡献。多年来，天文学家一直在增加望远镜的尺寸，以努力提高分辨率和光收集能力。这种方法是有限的，因为地球大气层在观看时会降低图像质量。当光圈增大到大于大气中的视区时，提高的分辨率就会丢失。自适应光学可以消除大部分退化。由于所需参考物的高成本和高亮度，为军事应用开发的光学系统对于天文用途是不实用的。任何光学系统的一个关键部件是可变形反射镜，它可以消除大气波前误差。军事承包商销售的可变形镜子的价格超过10万美元。Valpey-Fisher公司相信，这些双晶片形式的镜子可以以不到1万美元的价格生产。他们将与J·埃隆·格雷夫斯和他在夏威夷大学的自适应光学小组合作。他们在加工和抛光PZT材料方面的经验将使他们能够生产这些镜子。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will show that adaptive optics can make a major contribution to ground based optical and infrared astronomy by making it affordable. Astronomers have been increasing the size of telescopes for years in an effort to increase both resolution and light collection capabilities. This approach is limited due to Earth's atmosphere degrading the image at seeing time. As apertures increase larger than the seeing cells in the atmosphere, improved resolution is lost. Adaptive optics can remove most of the degradation. AO systems developed for military applications are not practical for astronomical use due to high cost and brightness of the reference object needed. One key component to any AO system is the deformable mirror which can remove atmospheric wavefront errors. Military contractors sell deformable mirrors at costs over $100,000. Valpey-Fisher Corporation believes these mirrors made in bimorph form can be produced for under $10,000. They will work in collaboration with J. Elon Graves and his adaptive optics group at the University of Hawaii. Their experience in machining and polishing PZT materials will allow them to produce these mirrors.