Title :
Micromirror arrays designed and tested for space instrumentation
Author :
Zamkotsian, Frederic ; Canonica, Michael ; Tangen, Kyrre ; Lanzoni, Patrick ; Grassi, Emmanuel ; Barette, Rudy ; Fabron, Christophe ; Waldis, Severin ; Noell, Wilfried ; De Rooij, Nico ; Marchand, Laurent ; Duvet, Ludovic
Author_Institution :
Lab. d´´Astrophys. de Marseille, CNRS, Marseille, France
Abstract :
Next-generation infrared astronomical instrumentation for ground-based and space telescopes requires MOEMS-based programmable slit masks for multi-object spectroscopy. We made a full space evaluation of Texas Instruments DMD chips, including tests at cold temperature and in vacuum, life tests, radiations, and vibrations and shocks. These results do not reveal any show-stopper concerning its ability to meet environmental space requirements. In parallel, a 100×200μm2 micro-mirror array was successfully designed for cryogenic temperature, fabricated and tested at 92K. Large micromirror arrays of 20´000 micromirrors have also been fabricated. These tests demonstrate the full ability of this type of components for space instrumentation.
Keywords :
astronomical telescopes; cryogenics; micro-optomechanical devices; micromirrors; optical arrays; optical design techniques; optical fabrication; optical testing; programmable circuits; DMD chips; MOEMS-based programmable slit masks; cryogenic temperature; ground-based telescopes; life tests; micromirror array design; multiobject spectroscopy; next-generation infrared astronomical instrumentation; space instrumentation; space telescopes; temperature 92 K; Aerospace electronics; Cryogenics; Micromirrors; Telescopes; MOEMS; astronomical instrumentation; micromirror array; multi-object spectrograph; space instrumentation;
Conference_Titel :
Optical MEMS and Nanophotonics (OPT MEMS), 2010 International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Sapporo
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-8926-8
Electronic_ISBN :
978-1-4244-8925-1
DOI :
10.1109/OMEMS.2010.5672119
