Status of mirror segment production for the Giant Magellan Telescope

H. M. Martin; J. H. Burge; J. M. Davis; D. W. Kim; J. S. Kingsley; K. Law; A. Loeff; R. D. Lutz; C. Merrill; P. A. Strittmatter; M. T. Tuell; S. N. Weinberger; S. C. West

doi:10.1117/12.2234491

22 July 2016 Status of mirror segment production for the Giant Magellan Telescope

H. M. Martin, J. H. Burge, J. M. Davis, D. W. Kim, J. S. Kingsley, K. Law, A. Loeff, R. D. Lutz, C. Merrill, P. A. Strittmatter, M. T. Tuell, S. N. Weinberger, S. C. West

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9912, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II; 99120V (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234491
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

The Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab at the University of Arizona is responsible for production of the eight 8.4 m segments for the primary mirror of the Giant Magellan Telescope, including one spare off-axis segment. We report on the successful casting of Segment 4, the center segment. Prior to generating the optical surface of Segment 2, we carried out a major upgrade of our 8.4 m Large Optical Generator. The upgrade includes new hardware and software to improve accuracy, safety, reliability and ease of use. We are currently carrying out an upgrade of our 8.4 m polishing machine that includes improved orbital polishing capabilities. We added and modified several components of the optical tests during the manufacture of Segment 1, and we have continued to improve the systems in preparation for Segments 2-8. We completed two projects that were prior commitments before GMT Segment 2: casting and polishing the combined primary and tertiary mirrors for the LSST, and casting and generating a 6.5 m mirror for the Tokyo Atacama Observatory.

Citation Download Citation

H. M. Martin, J. H. Burge, J. M. Davis, D. W. Kim, J. S. Kingsley, K. Law, A. Loeff, R. D. Lutz, C. Merrill, P. A. Strittmatter, M. T. Tuell, S. N. Weinberger, and S. C. West "Status of mirror segment production for the Giant Magellan Telescope", Proc. SPIE 9912, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II, 99120V (22 July 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234491

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