Seeing the sun more clearly with the help of an adaptive mirror – Innovation Origins

When astronomers use telescopes to monitor and take pictures of space, the earths atmosphere can distort the image much like the weather can cloud the lens on a camera. Telescopes that float in space, such as the Hubble Telescope, can solve this issue since they avoid the atmosphere altogether. However, the most powerful telescopes are also the largest and, for now, these are built on earth.

To correct for the optical distortions caused by the atmosphere, Adaptive Secondary Mirrors (ASM) can be attached to earth-bound telescopes which allow for a clearer image of space. A bid by TNO has been selected for one such ASM for the European Solar Telescope (EST), so it can be used to better monitor the suns activity.

The AMS are mirrors that change shape in order to correct for the issues our atmosphere creates. To achieve this, the adaptive mirrors are mounted on actuators devices that push and pull the mirrors in a way that shift their angle. Much of the innovation that TNO submitted, and ultimately won the bid for, is built around these actuators as they are more reliable and efficient than the competition.

Want to be inspired 365 days per year? Heres the opportunity. We offer you one "origin of innovation" a day in a compact Telegram message. Seven days a week, delivered around 8 p.m. CET. Straight from our newsroom. Subscribe here, it's free!

The key to our technology is that we have reinvented the deformable mirror actuator, says Matthew Maniscalco, one of the scientists involved in the project.

Other actuator designs rely on electromagnetics to move the mirrors, meaning that the force can change depending on the distance from the magnet. TNOs actuator design is physically attached to the mirror and is balanced with a spring, electromagnetic coils, and fixed magnets that keep the force balanced and linear. This means it can be more energy efficient and precise.

The success of this design will allow the EST to monitor the sun and even predict for disturbances like solar flares. The radiation that comes from solar flares can be very harmful to satellites but by simply turning the satellites off, one can protect against much of the damage. Thus, being able to predict for solar flares can be very useful for satellite longevity.

Larger telescopes are being built all over the world to understand phenomena like this but Maniscalco hopes that the technology can be used to retrofit existing ones and keep them relevant.

We believe our technology can be used to retrofit really great, old telescopes to help them compete, says Maniscalco.

Read about how citizens can help look for black holes with the LOFAR telescope.

Original post:
Seeing the sun more clearly with the help of an adaptive mirror - Innovation Origins