Large POEs Based on Multilayer Honeycomb Structures

Abstract

Increasing the size of the POEs, while preserving the predetermined level of the optical surface distortion, dramatically increases their mass [1–3]. To reduce the weight of large POEs while maintaining the stiffness of their structures, along with new approaches such as the use of materials with synthesised physical and technical properties promising is also the search for new solutions to the problem. In some cases, the POE weight is reduced by creation of internal voids with relatively large cells. This allows one to decrease the POE weight by 6–7 times for the value of optical surface distortion by its own weight, which is 0.7–0.8 of monolithic mirror distortion. However, it is difficult to create a system of thermal stabilisation without significant loss of rigidity in POEs with large internal voids.