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High-density deformable mirrors to enable coronographic planet detection

2004; SPIE; Volume: 5166; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1117/12.512729

1996-756X

Mark A. Ealey, John T. Trauger,

Astronomy and Astrophysical Research

Active wavefront correction of a space telescope provides a technology path for extremely high contrast imaging astronomy at levels well beyond the capabilities of current telescope systems. A precision deformable mirror technology intended specifically for wavefront correction in a visible/near-infrared space telescope has been developed at Xinetics and extensively tested at JPL over the past several years. Active wavefront phase correction has been demonstrated to 1-Angstrom rms over the spatial frequency range accessible to a mirror with an array of actuators on a 1-mm pitch. High density deformable mirror technology is based on a modular actuator arrays that are scalable to 1000s of actuator elements coupled to the surface of a thin mirror facesheet. Precision actuator control is done by using a low-power, vacuum compatible multiplexed driver system. Mirror surface figure, actuator influence function, and dimensional stability will be given in the context of the Eclipse point design for a coronagraphic space telescope.