Paper 13100-281
Paper 13100-281
Design and feasibility study of a scalable liquid mirror
On demand | Presented live 20 June 2024 
Abstract
Advancements in ground-based liquid mirror telescopes that enable tilt and slew while maintaining mirror functionality would allow for very large-scale, low-cost mirror solutions. Here, we present both a solution framework as well as preliminary modeling results to demonstrate feasibility for a reflective ferrofluid, magnetically-actuated approach. We propose reflective ferrofluid development and optimization as well as manufacturing of a magnetically permeable paraboloid shell with surface wicking structure and electromagnetic coil arrays to deliver required wavefront performance and maintain fluid stability. We share our initial model and small-scale test results with baseline ferrofluid, wicking structure, and actuation inputs to demonstrate feasibility and describe our plans for a 50 cm mirror build in the near future.
Presenter
Kristyn Kadala
Lockheed Martin Corp. (United States)
Dr. Kristyn Kadala completed her undergraduate studies in Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed her MS and PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. During her PhD, Kristyn specialized in micro and nanoscale manufacturing for heat transfer applications. She is currently a research scientist at the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto, CA with a focus on novel material development, additive manufacturing, and high temperature and shielding material development and testing for space-based and hypersonic applications.