Semirigid and adjustable CFRP membrane for radio telescope applications

ABSTRACT: High accuracy, light-weight carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), membrane reflectors have been demonstrated byComposite Optics, Inc. (COl) for applications in ground based, millimeter wave radio astronomy. The surface figure of asemi-rigid membrane can be significantly improved by adjustment with an array of passive adjusters that support themembrane. A factor of ten contour improvement is possible.. First, the surface is measured and analyzed for distortion from the desired shape. Then adjustment instructions are calculated by a customized software program and applied to the adjusters. This process is repeated to produce dimensionally stable reflectors several meters in diameter at or below 25 micrometers RMS.Keywords: adjustable reflector, reflector panel, primary reflector, CFRP, carbon fiber composite, stable structure, millimeterwave, radio telescope, Large Millimeter Telescope 1. INTRODUCTION Millimeter wave radio astronomy is of great interest to the scientific community and particularly to the University of