Analysis and verification of Hobby-Eberly Telescope 1-m mirror deflections due to edge sensor loading

Michael A. Stallcup; Jeffrey L. Lindner

doi:10.1117/12.447292

5 November 2001 Analysis and verification of Hobby-Eberly Telescope 1-m mirror deflections due to edge sensor loading

Michael A. Stallcup, Jeffrey L. Lindner

Proceedings Volume 4444, Optomechanical Design and Engineering 2001; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.447292
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The ninety-one 1 m mirror segments which comprise the McDonald Observatory Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) primary mirror have been observed to drift out of alignment in an unpredictable manner in response to time variant temperature deviations. A Segment Alignment Maintenance System (SAMS) is being developed to detect and correct this segment-to-segment drift using sensors mounted at the edges of the mirror segments. However, the segments were not originally designed to carry the weight of edge sensors. Thus, analyses and tests were conducted as part of the SAMS design to estimate the magnitude and shape of the edge sensor induced deformations as well as the resultant optical performance. Interferometric testing of a 26 m radius of curvature HET mirror segment was performed at the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center using several load conditions to verify the finite element analyses.

Citation Download Citation

Michael A. Stallcup and Jeffrey L. Lindner "Analysis and verification of Hobby-Eberly Telescope 1-m mirror deflections due to edge sensor loading", Proc. SPIE 4444, Optomechanical Design and Engineering 2001, (5 November 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.447292

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