Space telescope designs driven by science goals such as the infrared observation of high-redshift galaxies and the infrared observation of objects that would otherwise be obscured by dust in the visible push the operating temperatures of the optics to cryogenic temperatures. Typical temperatures, 30 to 100 K are a challenging regime for actuators, but little information is available on the low-temperature performance of Piezo-electric actuator products currently on the market. Work is underway to measure actuator stroke and CTE, at low temperatures for typical PZTs, such as those available "off-the-shelf" from P.I. and Thorlabs.

Date Published: 17 September 2007
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 6666, Optical Materials and Structures Technologies III, 666613 (17 September 2007); doi: 10.1117/12.767306

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 6666:
Optical Materials and Structures Technologies III
William A. Goodman; Joseph L. Robichaud, Editor(s)