Manufacture of a combined primary and tertiary mirror for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

H. M. Martin, J. H. Burge, B. Cuerden, W. B. Davison, J. S. Kingsley, R. D. Lutz, S. M. Miller, M. Tuell

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope uses a unique optomechanical design that places the primary and tertiary mirrors on a single glass substrate. The honeycomb sandwich mirror blank was formed in March 2008 by spin-casting. The surface is currently a paraboloid with a 9.9 m focal length matching the primary. The deeper curve of the tertiary mirror will be produced when the surfaces are generated. Both mirrors will be lapped and polished using stressed laps and other tools on an 8.4 m polishing machine. The highly aspheric primary mirror will be measured through a refractive null lens, and a computer-generated hologram will be used to validate the null lens. The tertiary mirror will be measured through a diffractive null corrector, also validated with a separate hologram. The holograms for the two tests provide alignment references that will be used to make the axes of the two surfaces coincide.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdvanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
EventAdvanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation - Marseille, France
Duration: Jun 23 2008Jun 28 2008

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7018
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherAdvanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityMarseille
Period6/23/086/28/08

Keywords

  • Active optics
  • Aspheres
  • Optical fabrication
  • Optical testing
  • Telescopes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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