Performance of large-format deformable mirrors constructed with hybrid variable reluctance actuators II: initial lab results from FLASH

Advancements in high-efficiency variable reluctance actuators are an enabling technology for building the next generation of large-format deformable mirrors, including adaptive secondary mirrors. The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) has developed a new style of hybrid variable-reluctance actuator that requires approximately seventy-five times less power to operate as compared to the traditional style of voice-coil actuators. We present the initial performance results from laboratory testing of TNO's latest 19-actuator prototype mirror, FLASH. We report the linearity, hysteresis, natural shape flattening, actuator cross-coupling, creep, and repeatability of the FLASH prototype and compare the results to previous TNO prototype deformable mirrors. We also present results of the performance of FLASH on sub-millisecond timescales in order to estimate the limits for the use of this technology when utilized to perform high-contrast imaging adaptive optics.