An analysis of membrane mirrors for use in large aperture imaging systems

Author

Peters, Kevin W. ; Bishop, Jonathan A. ; Wilkes, James M.

Author_Institution

Air Force Res. Lab., Kirtland AFB, NM, USA

Volume

2

fYear

1998

fDate

21-28 Mar 1998

Firstpage

47

Abstract

The finite element model was used to determine the surface figure of membrane mirrors. The Poisson´s ratio of the membrane was varied to determine the most desirable materials. It was found that materials with a Poisson´s ratio of 0.45 or greater are desirable. Membranes mirrors alone are poor imaging surfaces, and the effects of radial boundary displacement are investigated. It was found that radial boundary displacement can reduce the r.m.s. wavefront error of a 42 inch diameter f/1.9 mirror by 78.7%. A 42 inch diameter f/1.06 membrane mirror would have the r.m.s. wavefront error reduced by 65.6%. The primary on-axis and off-axis aberration was found to be 3^rd order spherical aberration for all f-numbers and at all radial displacements

Keywords

aberrations; finite element analysis; mirrors; optical images; remote sensing; 42 in; FEM; Poisson ratio; finite element model; large aperture imaging systems; material properties; membrane mirrors; primary off-axis aberration; primary on-axis aberration; radial boundary displacement; space-based imaging systems; surface figure; third-order spherical aberration; wavefront error reduction; Apertures; Biomembranes; Image analysis; Material properties; Mirrors; Optical imaging; Optical materials; Optical surface waves; Shape; Ultraviolet sources;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Aerospace Conference, 1998 IEEE

Conference_Location

Snowmass at Aspen, CO

ISSN

1095-323X

Print_ISBN

0-7803-4311-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/AERO.1998.687896

Filename

687896