Modeling Temperature-induced Surface Distortions in the MMTO 6.5 Meter Primary Mirror

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

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have performed finite element thermal analysis of our 6.5 meter primary mirror in the hopes of improving the accuracy of our open loop models and reducing the need to interrupt science observations to tune our optics. In the analysis we apply temperature variations to the front, back, and middle of the mirror to correspond to the locations of installed thermocouples. The input temperature variations and the predicted steady-state surface distortions are modeled as Zernike polynomials. The most significant effect we find is the focus error generated by a temperature gradient between the front and back of the mirror. Comparison with wavefront sensor data shows that we can get reasonably good agreement between predicted and measured focus errors. However, we do not yet get good agreement for other, higher order terms. There is also poorer agreement when conditions are changing rapidly.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationModeling, Systems Engineering, and Project Management for Astronomy III
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
EventModeling, Systems Engineering, and Project Management for Astronomy III - Marseille, France
Duration: Jun 26 2008Jun 28 2008

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7017
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceModeling, Systems Engineering, and Project Management for Astronomy III
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityMarseille
Period6/26/086/28/08

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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