MEMBRANE MIRROR AND BIAS ELECTRONICS

We have designed and built an electrostatically deformable membrane mi rror with simple bias and driver electronics to evaluate its suitabili ty for a curvature-sensing adaptive optics system. It has a 100-mm-dia meter aluminized nitrocellulose membrane, with 31 actuators arranged c oncentrically. The unit operates at atmospheric pressure with a high b ias voltage applied to the membrane. The high-voltage electronics are contained within the mirror housing for safety reasons. An entrance wi ndow reduces the effects of air-coupled vibration. Details of the devi ce and design rationale are presented. With a proper bias, the unit ca n provide low-order (including tip-tilt) wave-front correction. (C) 19 98 Optical Society of America.