A potato chip shaped mirror

[Sunfish]

https://phys.org/news/2015-11-telescope-mirrors.html

Now that is an ATM challenge.

[lazjen]

That was a "wtf" reading moment, for sure. I can't imagine the thought processes that led to this path in the first place.

Awesome tech though, and it will be interesting to see how tests go.

[Sunfish]

Yep. I had to check the date on the top.

They do exist though, mathematically at least. I thought optics were already complicated enough without zernike mode mirrors.

https://www.jpe-innovations.com/page/precision-point/zernike-modes-deformable-mirrors/

[multiweb]

Imagine collimating that thing. :eyepop:

[AndyG]

Reminds me of ultra short throw projectors. They're expensive enough...

[Camelopardalis]

Pringles in their tube :lol:

[Sunfish]

Yes. A free form mirror from Ricoh.

https://www.ricoh.com/technology/tech/040_projection

Would take some fancy software to collimate an off axis Pringle

[multiweb]

:eyepop: Looking at how that projector works that close to the wall I'm starting to understand how it would work on a telescope. I couldn't visualise the light path at first from the pringle. So how would they decide the profile(s) to manufacture? Raytrace from the focal point of the system back to the aperture's last surface? :question:

[Sunfish]

I have not experimented with a ray tracing program on mirror design. It would be interesting to see how it works. Any particular downloadable programs out there?

Can’t imagine it would be simple with a free form mirror though.

[Spacecat]

Sunfish, there's a few optical raytrace programs out there that will handle a limited number of surfaces for free , but they are a great place to start to learn about optical design and evaluation if you use supporting texts .


I've just been having a look at Modas NG . You can download from the download page. I believe the full blown program is going open source soon and will be free .


Comes with a load of sample designs .



http://www.myoptics.at/modas/galleryng.html

[Sunfish]

Thanks for that link.
I am out under the sky tonight and will check that with interest .