Development of a 2D precision cryogenic chopper for METIS

Sander L. Paalvast; Huub Janssen; Maurice Teuwen; Robert Huisman; Bernhard Brandl; Frank Molster; Lars Venema

doi:10.1117/12.925338

13 September 2012 Development of a 2D precision cryogenic chopper for METIS

Sander L. Paalvast, Huub Janssen, Maurice Teuwen, Robert Huisman, Bernhard Brandl, Frank Molster, Lars Venema

Proceedings Volume 8450, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation II; 845020 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925338
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The Mid-infrared E-ELT Imager and Spectrograph, or METIS, is foreseen as the third instrument for the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT). A key part of METIS is the Cold Chopper (MCC) which switches the optical beam between the target and a nearby reference sky during observation for elimination of the fluctuating IR background signal in post-processing. This paper discusses the development of the MCC demonstrator. The chopper mirror (Ø64mm) has to tip/tilt in 2D with a combined angle of up to 13.6mrad with 1.7μrad stability and repeatability within 5ms (95% duty cycle at 5Hz) at 80K. As these requirements cannot be met in the presence of friction or backlash, the mirror is guided by a monolithically integrated flexure mechanism. The angular position is actuated by three linear actuators and measured by three linear position sensors, resulting in a fast tip, tilt, and focus mirror. Using the third actuator to introduce symmetry, homogeneity in forces and heat flux is obtained. Both the actuators and the sensors are key components. A voice coil actuator had to be custom designed, to achieve the required acceleration force within the specified 1W heat load. The requirements for the displacement measurement can be met with a commercially available, fiber interferometry system. For integration of this system, stray light elimination is a critical design aspect and retro-reflectors have been used to reflect sufficient power into the fiber at large tip/tilt angles.

Citation Download Citation

Sander L. Paalvast, Huub Janssen, Maurice Teuwen, Robert Huisman, Bernhard Brandl, Frank Molster, and Lars Venema "Development of a 2D precision cryogenic chopper for METIS", Proc. SPIE 8450, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation II, 845020 (13 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925338

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KEYWORDS

Actuators

Mirrors

Sensors

Cryogenics

Position sensors

Retroreflectors

Aluminum

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