Magnetically deformable mirrors for competitive manufacturing and biomedical imaging

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The primary objective of this proposal is to bring a new type adaptive optics (AO) mirror, pioneered by us, to practicality. The strong, multidisciplinary team will develop a new device in a novel application of AO in the manufacture of optical devices. A second mirror will be built and tested to demonstrate its significant advantages in biomedical imaging applications over current AO devices. The basic mirror consists of a thin reflective layer of silver nanoparticles spread on a magnetically deformable liquid (ferrofluid). The application of a magnetic field alters the shape of the fluid surface so that any arbitrary contour can be created and dynamically varied by changing the field. The ferrofluidic deformable mirror (FDM) is thus a very versatile adaptive optical element. The FDMs described in this proposal offer significant advantages over competing technologies: amplitudes of deformation varying from a few tens of nanometers to several tens of microns (several millimeters for large scale aberrations like defocus or coma) can be generated, fabrication costs are substantially lower, mirrors with large numbers of actuators can be produced and the mirror has a good temporal response. For the optical testing and biomedical applications, we will optimise mirror control, mirror speed and we will change the design to increase the robustness and stability to transport of the unit. A recent major hardware design improvement that applies a magnetic bias gives a linear response makes mirror control simpler and lowers the required currents. It also allows miniaturisation of actuators, giving the small size necessary to the biomedical mirror and the large number of actuators and fine control, necessary to the optical testing application. The mirror will be tested and optimised in real world applications: the testing of complex optics and the high resolution imaging of eyes. This project will be undertaken in close collaboration with industry partners who will assist in mirror development and evaluation and in student training.