Wavefront correction with a ferrofluid deformable mirror: experimental results and recent developments

TL;DR

This paper reports on a ferrofluid-based deformable mirror capable of correcting low-order wavefront aberrations with high precision and speed, including recent advancements in response linearization and frequency performance.

Contribution

It introduces a ferrofluid deformable mirror with improved correction accuracy, high-frequency response, and a novel linearization method for better control.

Findings

Corrects 11 microns wavefront aberration to 0.05 microns RMS

Achieves response frequencies of several hundred hertz

Develops a new linearization technique for mirror response

Abstract

We present the research status of a deformable mirror made of a magnetic liquid whose surface is actuated by a triangular array of small current carrying coils. We demonstrate that the mirror can correct a 11 microns low order aberrated wavefront to a residual RMS wavefront error 0.05 microns. Recent developments show that these deformable mirrors can reach a frequency response of several hundred hertz. A new method for linearizing the response of these mirrors is also presented.