Opto-Mechanical Analysis

2020 Course Description

Please note: The course descriptions and instructors listed below are NOT final, it is possible that circumstances beyond our control could necessitate alterations.

June 8, Monday Morning

Modeling Optics and Surface Errors, Dr. Vic Genberg (Sigmadyne), Dr. Keith Doyle, (MIT/LL)

Brief review of elasticity and materials. Review of optical terminology and metrics relevant to mechanical distortions. Optical surface errors and Zernike polynomials. Issues with fitting surface displacements and passing data to optics codes. Finite element modeling of mirrors: solid mirrors, lightweight mirrors, surface coatings effects, quiliting, symmetry in analysis models.

June 8, Monday Afternoon

Modeling Mounts, Vibration Isolation, and Jitter, Dr. Vic Genberg (Sigmadyne), Dr. Keith Doyle, (MIT/LL)

ssues with fitting surface displacements and passing data to optics codes. Structural dynamics in optics: vibrations background theory, isolation of optical instruments, line-of-sight motion, wavefront error.  Computational aspects of jitter and wavefront error in random vibration.  Mechanical stress in optics: strength, fracture, stress birefringence.

June 9, Tuesday Morning

Stress-Optic and Thermo-Optic effects, Dr. Vic Genberg (Sigmadyne), Dr. Keith Doyle, (MIT/LL)

Thermo-optical analysis: thermo-elastic distortions, index changes due to temperature. Computational aspects of optical path difference (OPD) and birefringence in finite element models. Finite element modeling of mounts and bonds: kinematic mounts, flexures, high Poisson material.

June 9, Tuesday Afternoon

Adaptive Optics and Optimization, Dr. Vic Genberg (Sigmadyne)

Adaptive optics: analysis techniques, actuator failure, optimal actuator placement. Stressed-optic polishing. Finite element modeling of assembly and test: assembly analysis methods, modeling test configurations, incorporating analytical backouts. Structural optimization of optical systems incorporating optical metrics.

June 10, Wednesday Morning

System Analysis Lab, Greg Michels, (Sigmadyne)

Systems analysis:  A typical telescope mechanical design and analysis flow is demonstrated. Additional topics include:  the use of superelements in optical systems and linear optics models.  An overview of SigFit is presented.