The 6.5-m MMT Telescope: status and plans for the future

Williams, G. G.; Ortíz, Ricardo; Goble, William M.; Gibson, Josephine

doi:10.1117/12.2233777

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 16 publications

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“…The second type uses virtual positioning points and includes the Advanced Electro-Optical System 3.6 m telescope (AEOS) [11], Very Large Telescope (VLT) [12], and Gemini Telescope [13]. The third type uses a six-hardpoint positioning mechanism for primary mirror positioning, including the MMT Telescope [14], Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) [15,16], and the unfinished Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) [17,18]. Although a rough classification is possible, the structure of the active support system and primary mirror are not standardized, and each support system is customized for the specific telescope and primary mirror [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active Support System for the Correction of a 4m SiC Primary Mirror Based on the Bending Mode

Yu,

Wu,

Wang

2023

Applied Sciences

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Active optics is a key technology in ground-based large-aperture telescopes. The active correction of the surface shape of the primary mirror is used to reduce the surface shape error and improve the imaging quality. At present, the structure of the active optics support system is not standardized. Therefore, to ensure the imaging quality of a telescope using a 4m SiC (silicon carbide) primary mirror, this article designed an active support system for the primary mirror and comprehensively evaluated the performance of the system. The system used pneumatic actuators to correct the surface shape of the primary mirror and a six-hardpoint positioning mechanism to correct the pose of the primary mirror. A method for compensating for the force on the hardpoints that causes protrusions and dents on the primary mirror surface was proposed, which effectively improved the accuracy of the primary mirror surface. The bending-mode method was used to determine the correction force. To achieve better results in the surface shape correction based on the bending mode, the relationship between the order of the bending modes used in the correction and the correction effect was studied, enabling the system to achieve a higher surface shape accuracy with a smaller correction force. Finally, the performance of the system was evaluated under various conditions, such as under gravity, thermal load, and wind load. The results indicated that the system had good correction effects on the deformation of the primary mirror under various operating conditions and could meet the requirements of optical design for surface accuracy. In conclusion, this study not only verified the application of active optics technology based on the bending mode in large-aperture SiC mirrors, but also improved on the relevant theoretical research on active optics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active Support System for the Correction of a 4m SiC Primary Mirror Based on the Bending Mode

Yu,

Wu,

Wang

2023

Applied Sciences

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The MMT Observatory: entering a new era of scientific discovery

Williams

2018

Ground-Based and Airborne Telescopes VII

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The MMT Observatory, a joint venture of the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Arizona, will soon celebrate the 40th anniversary of the dedication of its innovative Multiple Mirror Telescope. The original 4.5-m telescope, consisting of six 1.8-m mirrors on a common mount, operated productively for nearly 20 years until it was decommissioned to install a new telescope. The new MMT, which was dedicated in 2000, is equipped with a monolithic 6.5-m borosilicate primary mirror. The new telescope will soon surpass the operating lifetime of the original telescope. Coincident with this transition, the MMT will enter a new era of scientific discovery with the addition of new instrumentation and improved capabilities. This paper provides an overview of the current telescope and instrument configurations and then highlights recent and forthcoming developments, including new and upgraded instrumentation, that will usher in this new era. For example, a new high throughput wide-field multi-object imaging spectrograph with a long-slit mode, Binospec, was recently commissioned at the MMT. This powerful new instrument will very likely become a highly productive workhorse instrument in dark and grey time. Another major advancement that is underway at the MMT is a full redesign and refurbishment of the world's first adaptive secondary mirror. This effort, dubbed the MMT Adaptive Optics exoPlanet characterization System (MAPS), will result in a cutting edge AO system with a performance that greatly exceeds the original, now 20-year old, system. This system, together with the NIR spectrograph ARIES and the imaging-and spectropolarimeter MMTPol, provides some unique and powerful capabilities.

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The 6.5-m MMT Telescope: status and plans for the future

Cited by 2 publications

References 16 publications

Active Support System for the Correction of a 4m SiC Primary Mirror Based on the Bending Mode

Active Support System for the Correction of a 4m SiC Primary Mirror Based on the Bending Mode

The MMT Observatory: entering a new era of scientific discovery

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