Surface figure metrology for reflective membrane mirrors based on phase-measuring deflectometry
Abstract
Reflective membrane mirrors provide a lightweight, low-cost alternative to traditional optics for next-generation large-aperture telescopes, but their non-rigid, thin structure poses challenges for surface metrology. We present a phase-measuring deflectometry (PMD) system enhanced with tailored ray-tracing and iterative reconstruction to enable non-contact measurement of large membrane optics. The system successfully characterizes the surface figure and evaluates the dynamic stability of a 1-m Hencky-type membrane mirror. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of PMD as a practical metrology tool for future membrane-based telescope systems.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Structural Analysis and Optimization
Advanced Surface Polishing Techniques
Advanced optical system design
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
- Volume
- 12
- Publication date
- 6 January 2026
- Language
- EN