Reflectivity, polarization properties, and durability of metallic mirror coatings for the European Solar Telescope

A. Feller; N. Krishnappa; O. Pleier; J. Hirzberger; P. J. Jobst; M. Schürmann

doi:10.1117/12.927080

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13 September 2012 Reflectivity, polarization properties, and durability of metallic mirror coatings for the European Solar Telescope

A. Feller, N. Krishnappa, O. Pleier, J. Hirzberger, P. J. Jobst, M. Schürmann

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Proceedings Volume 8450, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation II; 84503U (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.927080
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

In the context of the conceptual design study for the European Solar Telescope (EST) we have investigated different metallic mirror coatings in terms of reflectivity, polarization properties and durability. Samples of the following coating types have been studied: bare aluminum, silver with different dielectric layers for protection and UV enhancement, and an aluminum-silver combination. From 2009 to 2011 we have carried out a long-term durability test under realistic observing conditions at the VTT solar telescope of the Observatorio del Teide (Tenerife, Spain), accompanied by repeated reflectivity measurements in the EST spectral working range (0.3 - 20 μm), and by polarization measurements in the visible range. The test results allow us to find the optimum coatings for the different mirrors in the EST beampath and to eventually assess aging effects and re-coating cycles. The results of the polarization measurements are a valuable input for an EST telescope polarization model, helping to meet the stringent requirements on polarimetric accuracy.

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A. Feller, N. Krishnappa, O. Pleier, J. Hirzberger, P. J. Jobst, and M. Schürmann "Reflectivity, polarization properties, and durability of metallic mirror coatings for the European Solar Telescope", Proc. SPIE 8450, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation II, 84503U (13 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.927080

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