Development of hot slumping technique and last optical performances obtained on a 500mm diameter slumped segment prototype for adaptive optics

M. Ghigo; S. Basso; R. Canestrari; L. Proserpio

doi:10.1117/12.826405

Translator Disclaimer

17 September 2009 Development of hot slumping technique and last optical performances obtained on a 500mm diameter slumped segment prototype for adaptive optics

M. Ghigo, S. Basso, R. Canestrari, L. Proserpio

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7439, Astronomical and Space Optical Systems; 74390M (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.826405
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In the framework of the E-ELT Design Study financed by the European Community under OPTICON-FP6, the INAF Astronomical Observatory of Brera (INAF-OAB) has developed a technique for the manufacturing of thin optical segments. Thin glass segments are produced by mean of an hot slumping technique that makes use of an optical quality ceramic mould and a precise thermal circle to impart the desired shape to a glass sheet. In the present paper we summarize the results obtained during this study and report the last results of the effort in scaling-up the procedure: in particular the overall process has been refined in order to optimize the parameters (such as time, maximum temperature and amount of pressure) used to slump a 500 mm diameter glass segment. The thickness of these glass segments is of about 1.7 mm, making the optical surface very floppy and easy to be deformed. For this reason optical tests have been performed using a astatic support implemented into a vertical optical bench.

Citation Download Citation

M. Ghigo, S. Basso, R. Canestrari, and L. Proserpio "Development of hot slumping technique and last optical performances obtained on a 500mm diameter slumped segment prototype for adaptive optics", Proc. SPIE 7439, Astronomical and Space Optical Systems, 74390M (17 September 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.826405

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE