W. M. Keck Telescope segmented primary mirror active control system

Richard C. Jared; A. A. Arthur; S. Andreae; A. K. Biocca; Richard W. Cohen; Josep M. Fuertes; J. Franck; George Gabor; Jorge Llacer; Terry S. Mast; John D. Meng; Tom L. Merrick; Robert H. Minor; James Truman Nelson; M. Orayani; P. Salz; Barbara A. Schaefer; Chris Witebsky

doi:10.1117/12.19266

Translator Disclaimer

1 July 1990 W. M. Keck Telescope segmented primary mirror active control system

Richard C. Jared, A. A. Arthur, S. Andreae, A. K. Biocca, Richard W. Cohen, Josep M. Fuertes, J. Franck, George Gabor, Jorge Llacer, Terry S. Mast, John D. Meng, Tom L. Merrick, Robert H. Minor, James Truman Nelson, M. Orayani, P. Salz, Barbara A. Schaefer, Chris Witebsky

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 1236, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes IV; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19266
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1990, Tucson, AZ, United States

Abstract

The ten meter diameter primary mirror of the W. M. Keck Telescope is a mosaic of thirty-six hexagonal mirrors. An active control system stabilizes the primary mirror. The active control system uses 168 measurements of the relative positions of adjacent mirror segments and 3 measurements of the'primary mirror position in the telescope structure to control the 108 degrees of freedom needed to stabilize the figure and position of the primary mirror. The components of the active control system are relative position sensors, electronics, computers, actuators that position the mirrors, and software. The software algorithms control the primary mirror, perform star image stacking, emulate the segments, store and fit calibration data, and locate hardware defects.

Citation Download Citation

Richard C. Jared, A. A. Arthur, S. Andreae, A. K. Biocca, Richard W. Cohen, Josep M. Fuertes, J. Franck, George Gabor, Jorge Llacer, Terry S. Mast, John D. Meng, Tom L. Merrick, Robert H. Minor, James Truman Nelson, M. Orayani, P. Salz, Barbara A. Schaefer, and Chris Witebsky "W. M. Keck Telescope segmented primary mirror active control system", Proc. SPIE 1236, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes IV, (1 July 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19266

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE