Abstract: An integrated actuator meniscus mirror includes an optical substrate having a mirror surface on one side and a support structure on the other and a plurality of actuators embedded in the support structure, spaced from and generally parallel to the mirror surface for applying bending moments to the mirror surface for controllably altering the shape of the mirror surface.

Abstract: A adaptive flow-control regulator is disclosed for use in controlling the circulation of cooling fluid through in a cooled laser mirror. The adaptive flow-control regulator utilizes a temperature-sensitive spring to control the movement of a plunger with respect to an orifice through which cooling fluid flows. Elongation of the spring is controlled by the temperature of the cooling fluid circulating around the spring. As the temperature of the coolant fluid increases from heating of the laser mirror, the spring contracts moving the plunger away from the orifice and allowing a greater volume of coolant to circulate through the mirror, thereby absorbing a greater amount of heat from the mirror structure. As the mirror is cooled by the circulating cooling fluid, the spring moves the plunger toward the orifice, thereby reducing the volume of cooling fluid circulating through the mirror's structure.

Abstract: A construction for a deformable mirror is disclosed in which each of the electrodistortive actuators used to selectively impart deformations to the mirror's reflecting facesheet are mechanically fastened to the facesheet and may be disengaged from the facesheet by operating a fusible link. In one preferred embodiment the fusible link consists of a layer of thermoplastic material covering an electrical resistive element located between the top of the actuator and the point on the facesheet at which the actuator is mechanically bonded to the facesheet. Heat generated by the resistive element may be used to melt the thermoplastic material fastening the actuator to the facesheet. The second preferred embodiment provides a fusible link consisting of an electrocapacitive layer sandwiched between two electrically-conducting layers.

Abstract: Oppositely polarized magnets are secured to a deformable mirror and a corresponding actuator. They rely on magnetic attraction to maintain the connection between the actuator and mirror. A reverse magnetic field is imposed when the actuator is to be removed for repair.

Abstract: A magnetodistortive actuator includes an elongated active component of a magnetodistortive material mounted on a support and having a stationary and a movable end portion. At least one permanent magnet applied a permanent magnetic bias to the active component to bring it to a desired point of its stress/field characteristic line. The strength of that portion of the magnetic field of the permanent magnet that acts on the active component is selectively varied by changing the magnetic reluctance of a body that is accommodated in a space interposed between the permanent magnet and the active component. The active component is further subjected to a variable magnetic field generated by a solenoid surrounding the active component, so that the active component is selectively shortened and lengthened around its length corresponding to the desired point, with attendant movement of the movable end portion relative to the support.

Abstract: A deformable mirror is disclosed having replaceable, electrically operable actuators for deforming the mirror's reflecting surface. A flexible retraction membrane is disposed between the actuators and the reflecting surface and the mirror's facesheet is bonded to the retraction membrane. The membrane provides constant contact between the facesheet and the mirror's actuators and provides a deflection load to mechanically drive the facesheet downward against the operation of the actuators, thus providing a mechanical force to deflect the mirror's reflecting surface when electrical signals are selectively removed from one or more of the mirror's actuators. The membrane contains a gradient stiffness in the vicinity of each actuator to tailor the deformation profile, to maintain circular symmetry and to minimize the curve fitting error in the vicinity of each actuator.

Abstract: A deformable mirror construction is disclosed in which a difference in pressure between the front reflecting surface of the deformable mirror and an enclosed chamber behind the mirror's reflecting surface is used to restore the reflecting surface to its undeformed condition after its shape has been deformed by the selective operation of one or more electrodistortive actuators. A pump is associated with the chamber to produce at least a partial vacuum in the enclosed chamber. The use of a pressure differential to influence the shape of the mirror's reflecting surface avoids the need to have the actuators fastened to the reflecting surface, thereby permitting a construction which provides for the easy replacement of actuators. A preferred embodiment of the deformable mirror includes an apparatus for circulating a coolant through the mirror's faceplate to remove heat therefrom.

Abstract: A construction for electrodisplacive transducers for use in deformable mirrors in which the transducer is assembled from two or more segments of electrodisplacive material. Each segment contains multiple stacked layers of electrodisplacive material which are separated from adjacent layers by electrodes. During manufacture the segments may be individually tested and sorted by the stroke that they produce for a given electrical input signal applied to the stacked layers. Segments are selected and fastened to each other so that the total stroke produced by the selected segments equals the stroke required from the actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calibrating deformable mirrors having replaceable actuators are disclosed. The mirror to be calibrated is mounted on an x-y table to permit selective movement of the mirror between an actuator position adjustor means and a sensor probe which senses the extent of deflection of the mirror's reflecting surface. A light source provides a source of illumination for selectively illuminating areas of the reflecting surface in the vicinity of an actuator to be adjusted. A photodetector array receives the reflected light and transmits its output to a controller which computes the distance between the sensor probe and the reflecting surface. The controller may be used to selectively energize the actuator position adjustor means to control the extent that one or more actuators influence the shape of the mirror's reflecting surface.

Abstract: A construction for a deformable mirror is disclosed in which permanent magnets are used to both retain actuators used to selectively deform the faceplate's reflecting surface within the mirror's base and to retain the mirror's faceplate to each of the actuators. The faceplate may be removed from the base by rotating each of the actuator's within its mounting hole to disrupt the magnetic circuit between each actuator and ferrous elements on the faceplate. Removal of one or more actuators from the base without disturbing the faceplate may be effected by rotation of the actuators to be removed to disconnect magnets in plugs used to support each actuator within the base from ferrous elements in the base.

Abstract: A magnetodistortive acutator arrangement for a flexible mirror that is mounted on a support includes an array of magnetodistortive actuators. Each of these actuators includes an elongated core of a highly magnetically permeable material stationarily mounted on the support, centered on a longitudinal axis and having two axially spaced end portions, a solenoid coil surrounding one of the end portions of the core and operative when energized for generating an electromagnetic field which permeates the core and has a high intensity region extending beyond the other of the end portions of the core, an active member of a magnetodistortive material connected to the core and extending axially beyond the other end portion thereof at least partially through the high-intensity region of the electromagnetic field for the latter to cause a change at least the axial dimension of the active member, and a transmitting member which applies this change to the flexible mirror.