Force-Actuated Adaptive Secondary Mirror Prototype

The new 6.5 m single mirror Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) will be equipped with adaptive optics capabilities. In particular, high resolution infrared astronomy will use a new adaptive secondary on a regular basis. Before we design the adaptive secondary in detail, we fabricated a smaller prototype mirror using similar actuators and actuator geometry. The prototype's purpose is to debug the components and allow comparisons with theoretical predictions. We are studying system interactions and looking for unexpected performance characteristics. Manufacturing techniques and reliability are also being tested, to reduce risks when building the adaptive secondary.