An adaptive optics upgrade for the Automated Planet Finder Telescope using an adaptive secondary mirror

As we enter the era of TESS and JWST, instrumentation that can carry out radial velocity measurements of exoplanet systems is in high demand. We will address this demand by upgrading the UC Lick Observatory’s 2.4-meter Automated Planet Finder (APF) telescope with an adaptive optics (AO) system. The AO upgrade will be directly integrated into the...

Performance of large-format deformable mirrors constructed with hybrid variable reluctance actuators II: Initial lab results from FLASH

Advancements in high-efficiency hybrid variable reluctance (HVR) actuators are an enabling technology for building the next generation of large-format deformable mirrors, including adaptive secondary mirrors. The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) has developed a new style of hybrid variable reluctance actuator that...

Use of 3D printing in astronomical mirror fabrication

In this paper we are exploring the possibilities of 3D printing in the fabrication of mirrors for astronomy. Taking the advantages of 3D printing to solve the existing problems caused by traditional manufacturing, two proof-of- concept mirror fabrication strategies are investigated in this paper. The first concept is a deformable mirror with...

Performance of large-format deformable mirrors constructed with TNO variable reluctance actuators

Developing adaptive secondary mirror concepts for the APF and W.M. Keck Observatory based on HVR technology

An Adaptive secondary mirror (ASM) allows for the integration of adaptive optics (AO) into the telescope itself. Adaptive secondary mirrors, based on hybrid variable reluctance (HVR) actuator technology, developed by TNO, provide a promising path to telescope-integrated AO. HVR actuators have the advantage of allowing mirrors that are sti↵er,...

Electromagnetically actuated deformable mirror technology

TNO’s DM technology is based on a unique electromagnetic actuator. TNO is targeting the DM development for applications for atmospheric corrections in both astronomy and laser communication applications.

Opto-mechatronics system development for future intersatellite laser communications

Optical communications will complement radio frequency (RF) communications in the coming decades to enhance throughput, power efficiency and link security of satellite communication links. To enable optical communications technology for intersatellite links and (bi-directional) ground to satellite links, TNO develops a suite of technologies in...

Adaptive secondary mirror development for the UH-88 telescope

TNO and industrial partners VDL ETG, L3Harris and Hyperion are developing a novel Adaptive Secondary Mirror (ASM) for Ground Layer Adaptive Optics (GLAO) at the University of Hawaii’s 88-inch telescope on Mauna Kea. The ASM is based on a unique actuator principle which delivers a >30µm PV 99% linear stroke at a very high efficiency in terms of...

Advances of TNO's electromagnetic deformable mirror development

TNO is developing Deformable Mirror (DM) technology, targeted for aberration correction in high-end Adaptive Optics (AO) applications in the field of lithography, astronomy, space and laser communication. The heart of this deformable mirror technology is a unique actuator technology based on the variable reluctance principle. The main advantages...

Optical feeder link program and first adaptive optics test results

TNO and DLR envision optical free-space communication between ground stations and geostationary telecommunication satellites to replace the traditional RF links for the next generation of Very High Throughput Satellites. To mitigate atmospheric turbulence, an Adaptive Optics (AO) system will be used. TNO and DLR are developing breadboards to...

Electromagnetic deformable mirror for space applications

To increase the collecting power and to improve the angular imaging resolution, space telescopes are evolving towards larger primary mirrors. The aerial density of the telescope mirrors needs to be kept low, however, to be compatible with the launch requirements. A light-weight (primary) mirror will introduce additional optical aberrations to...

Impact of design-parameters on the optical performance of a highpower adaptive mirror

TNO is developing a High Power Adaptive Mirror (HPAM) to be used in the CO2 laser beam path of an Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV) light source for next-generation lithography. In this paper we report on a developed methodology, and the necessary simulation tools, to assess the performance and associated sensitivities of this deformable mirror. Our...

Electromagnetic deformable mirror development at TNO

Over the last decade TNO has developed a deformable mirror concept using electromagnetic actuators with the main advantages of having very low non-linearity and hysteresis, low power consumption, and high inherent reliability of the actuators. TNO recently started a program to redesign the electromagnetic actuator to improve the actuator...

Electromagnetic DM technology meets future AO demands

New deformable mirror technology is developed by the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Delft University of Technology and TNO Science and Industry. Several prototype adaptive deformable mirrors are realized mirrors, up to 427 actuators and ∅150mm diameter, with characteristics suitable for future AO systems. The prototypes consist of a 100µm...

Deformable mirrors: Design fundamentals for force actuation of continuous facesheets

Adaptive Optics is established as essential technology in current and future ground based (extremely) large telescopes to compensate for atmospheric turbulence. Deformable mirrors for astronomic purposes have a high number of actuators (> 10k), a relatively large stroke (> 10µm) on a small spacing (< 10mm) and a high control bandwidth (> 100Hz)....

Validation of a new adaptive deformable mirror concept

A new prototype adaptive deformable mirror for future AO-systems is presented that consists of a thin continuous membrane on which push-pull actuators impose out-of-plane displacements. Each actuator has ±10um stroke, nanometer resolution and only mW's heat dissipation. The mirror's modular design makes the mechanics, electronics and control...

Distributed control in adaptive optics: deformable mirror and turbulence modeling

Future large optical telescopes require adaptive optics (AO) systems whose deformable mirrors (DM) have ever more degrees of freedom. This paper describes advances that are made in a project aimed to design a new AO system that is extendible to meet tomorrow's specifications. Advances on the mechanical design are reported in a companion paper ...

Large adaptive deformable mirror: design and first prototypes

The first prototype of an actuator for a new adaptive deformable mirror (DM) is presented together with the development of a 61-actuator grid element. The DM design consists of a thin membrane which acts as the correcting element. A grid of low voltage electro-magnetic push-pull actuators, impose out-of-plane displacements in the mirror's...