Figures of Merit for Mirror Materials

Abstract

Potential mechanisms that result in excessive wavefront distortions by large mirrors are reviewed, with the objective of defining the mirror substrate material property requirements in each case. A generalized figure of merit is found to require maximal thermal conductivity, elastic modulus, strength, melting point, and dimensional stability. The thermal expansion coefficients and their variability must be minimized. The analyses can be used to optimize mirror design and materials for a wide range of mechanical and thermal loading conditions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 10, 1980
Accession Number
ADA089404

Entities

People

  • Ernest G. Wolff

Organizations

  • The Aerospace Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Transfer
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Mechanical Working
  • Mechanics
  • Optical Materials
  • Optics
  • Physics Laboratories
  • Stress Waves
  • Tensile Strength
  • Thermal Conductivity
  • Thermodynamics

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.