Mirror cell and active support system of the Mexican infrared optical telescope (TIM)

Elfego Ruiz Schneider; Erika Sohn; Irene Cruz-Gonzales; Luis Salas; Maria H. Pedrayes; Gerardo Sierra

doi:10.1117/12.319299

25 August 1998 Mirror cell and active support system of the Mexican infrared optical telescope (TIM)

Elfego Ruiz Schneider, Erika Sohn, Irene Cruz-Gonzales, Luis Salas, Maria H. Pedrayes, Gerardo Sierra

Proceedings Volume 3352, Advanced Technology Optical/IR Telescopes VI; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.319299
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

We present the conceptual design of the primary mirror support system of the 7.8 m Mexican Infrared-Optical Telescope. The primary mirror consists of 19 hexagonal off- axis parabolic Zerodur segments, which are carried by a tubular, lightweight and high stiffness cell structure. Each segment is actively supported by 19 pneumatic actuators, that cover the whole back area and provide a uniform force distribution. The array of actuators will be able to correct for high order aberrations. Each of these actuators contains a hydraulic damping system to provide a stiff coupling to the tubular cell to sustain the wind buffeting. The tip/tilt and piston control of each segment will be done through three axial, nanometer resolution position defining actuators. The lateral positioning of each segment is performed through 3 independent electro-mechanical actuators. With the combination of the whole set of actuators and differential positioning sensors, the phasing or coherent superposition of images of the segments, will be more feasible. The whole system will be cost effective, since several subsystems have already been tested on our 2.1 m telescope.

Citation Download Citation

Elfego Ruiz Schneider, Erika Sohn, Irene Cruz-Gonzales, Luis Salas, Maria H. Pedrayes, and Gerardo Sierra "Mirror cell and active support system of the Mexican infrared optical telescope (TIM)", Proc. SPIE 3352, Advanced Technology Optical/IR Telescopes VI, (25 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.319299

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