The Fabrication and Characterisation of Piezoelectric Actuators for Active X-ray Optics
2009
Piezoelectric actuators are widely employed in adaptive optics to enable an actively controlled mirror surface and
improve the optical resolution and sensitivity. Currently two new prototype adaptive X-ray optical systems are under
development through the Smart X-ray Optics project in a UK based consortium. One proposed technology is micro-structured
optical arrays (MOAs) which uses aligned micro-channels structures obtained by deep silicon etching using
both dry and wet techniques and bonded piezoelectric actuators to produce a micro-focused X-ray source for biological
applications. The other technology is large scale optics which uses a thin shell mirror segment with 20-40 bonded piezo-actuators
for the next generation of X-ray telescopes with an aim to achieve a resolution greater than that currently
available by Chandra (0.5").
The Functional Materials Group of Birmingham University has the capability of fabricating a wide range of piezo-actuators
including, for example, unimorph, bimorph and active fibre composites (AFC) by using a viscous plastic
processing technique. This offers flexibility in customising the shapes (from planar to 3-D helix) and feature sizes (>20
μm) of the actuators, as well as achieving good piezoelectric properties. PZT unimorph actuators are being developed in
this programme according to the design and implementation of the proposed mirror and array structures. Precise
controls on the dimension, thickness, surface finishing and the curvature have been achieved for delivering satisfactory
actuators. Results are presented regarding the fabrication and characterisation of such piezo-actuators, as well as the
progress on the large optic and MOAs prototypes employing the piezo-actuators.
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