SCHOTT produces the zero expansion glass ceramics material ZERODUR since 35 years. More than 250 ZERODUR mirror blanks were already delivered for the large segmented mirror telescopes KECK I, KECK II, HET, GTC, and LAMOST. Now several extremely large telescope (ELT) projects are in discussion, which are designed with even larger primary mirrors (TMT, OWL, EURO50, JELT, CFGT, GMT). These telescopes can be achieved also only by segmentation of the primary mirror. Based on the results of the recent production of segment blanks for the GTC project the general requirements of mirror blanks for future extremely large telescope projects have been evaluated. The specification regarding the material quality and blank geometry is discussed in detail. As the planned mass production of mirror blanks for ELT's will last for several years, economic factors are getting even more important for the success of the projects. SCHOTT is a global enterprise with a solid economical basis and therefore an ideal partner for the mirror blank delivery of extremely large telescopes.

Date Published: 30 May 2006
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 6148, 2nd International Symposium on Advanced Optical Manufacturing and Testing Technologies: Large Mirrors and Telescopes, 61480G (30 May 2006); doi: 10.1117/12.674089

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6148:
2nd International Symposium on Advanced Optical Manufacturing and Testing Technologies: Large Mirrors and Telescopes
Yudong Zhang; Wenhan Jiang; Myung K. Cho, Editor(s)