The case for liquid mirrors in orbiting telescopes

1992 ◽  
Vol 392 ◽  
pp. 375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermanno F. Borra
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Mirrors

Magnetically Deformable Liquid Mirrors from Surface Films of Silver Nanoparticles

ChemPhysChem ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 981-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Ritcey ◽  
Ermanno Borra
Keyword(s):  
Silver Nanoparticles ◽  
Surface Films ◽  
Liquid Mirrors

scholarly journals Liquid-Mirror Telescope Surveys

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 464-467
Author(s):  
P. Hickson
Keyword(s):  
Integration Time ◽  
Spectral Energy ◽  
Energy Distributions ◽  
Ccd Cameras ◽  
Photometric Redshifts ◽  
Rotating Liquid ◽  
Liquid Mirrors ◽  
Under Construction ◽  
Optical Telescopes ◽  
Mirror Telescope

Abstract Recent advances in the technology of rotating liquid-mirrors now make feasible the construction of large optical telescopes for dedicated survey programs. Two three-metre-class astronomical telescopes have been built and asix-metre telescope is under construction. These instruments observe in zenith-pointing mode, using drift-scanning CCD cameras to record continuous imaging of a strip of sky typically 20 arcmin wide. This enables them to observe of order 100 square degrees of sky with an integration time of a few minutes per night. Data can be co-added from night to night in order to increase the depth of the survey. Liquid-mirror telescopes are particularly wellsuited to surveys using broad or intermediate bandwidth filters to obtain photometric redshifts and spectral energy distributions for faint galaxies and quasars.

Gallium Liquid Mirrors: Basic Technology, Optical-Shop Tests, and Observations

1997 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. F. Borra ◽  
G. Tremblay ◽  
Y. Huot ◽  
J. Gauvin
Keyword(s):  
Basic Technology ◽  
Liquid Mirrors

Liquid mirrors

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 109-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermanno F. Borra
Keyword(s):  
Optical Design ◽  
Wide Band ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
Optical Quality ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Design Work ◽  
Atmospheric Sciences ◽  
Expected Performance ◽  
Basic Technology ◽  
Liquid Mirrors

The surface of a spinning liquid takes the shape of a paraboloid that can be used as a reflecting mirror. This very old and nearly forgotten concept has recently been revived and I review its present status. Extensive interferometric tests of liquid mirrors (the largest one having a diameter of 2.5 m) show excellent optical qualities. I discuss the factors that can limit the optical quality of liquid mirrors, how to minimize them as well as the basic technology. A handful of liquid mirrors have now been built that are used for scientific work. I show representative data obtained from 2.65 m diameter liquid mirror telescopes used for astronomy and the atmospheric sciences (LIDAR). Section 5, of particular interest to cosmologists or astronomers using surveys, examines the expected performance of 4 m liquid mirror telescopes (LMTs) dedicated to cosmological surveys. It is rather impressive, due to the fact that the instruments work full-time on 4 year surveys: Spectrophotometry reaches B = 24 for all objects within over 100 square degrees and wide-band photometry reaches about B = 28. I consider the future of liquid mirror telescopes: limits to their sizes, engineering issues, as well as speculations on lunar or space LMTs. I briefly mention the possibility of nonrotating GRIN (gradient index) liquid mirrors. Finally, I address the issues of the field accessible to LMTs equipped with novel optical correctors. Optical design work, and some exploratory laboratory work, indicate that a single LMT should be able to access, with excellent images, small regions anywhere inside fields as large as 45°.

Liquid Mirrors

1994 ◽  
Vol 270 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermanno F. Borra
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Mirrors

scholarly journals Optical tests of nanoengineered liquid mirrors

2003 ◽  
Vol 42 (10) ◽  
pp. 1882 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélène Yockell-Lelièvre ◽  
Ermanno F. Borra ◽  
Anna M. Ritcey ◽  
Lande Vieira da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Mirrors

scholarly journals Tiltable rotating liquid mirrors: a progress report

2007 ◽  
Vol 479 (2) ◽  
pp. 597-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Gagné ◽  
E. F. Borra ◽  
A. M. Ritcey
Keyword(s):  
Progress Report ◽  
Rotating Liquid ◽  
Liquid Mirrors
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