Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Light-weighted Primary Mirror for Cassegrain Telescope

This article reports an approach of light-weighted mirror design and analysis to increase the weight reduction ratio and improve optical performance based on the finite element method and opto-mechanical analysis. The approach is to represent mirror surface deformation derived from finite element analysis (FEA) by Zernike polynomials, such that the impact of deformation on optical system performance can be evaluated by the optical design and analysis program. The experimental modal analysis was also performed to validate the FEA results. The numerical result shows that the light-weighted primary mirror of Cassegrain telescope is obtained by this approach and predicted deformation fulfills the requirements of optical design.