The ExoLife Finder (ELF) Telescope: new adaptive optics and hybrid dynamic live-optical surfaces strategies

The exponential growth in exoplanets studies and related science such as detecting life and even civilizations on Earth-like planets requires high angular resolution and high-contrast observations. Such appealing sciences cases are a powerful reason for developing a dedicated high contrast telescope concept – The ExoLife Finder (ELF) Telescope. Here we describe the ELF overall optical concept, its preliminary Adaptive Optics concept and a novel and revolutionary technology to produce mirrors making use of force-sensor-actuator elements that are 3D-printed onto very thin slumped glass-sandwich elements of fire-polished glass – a very precise aspherical optical surface dedicated to high contrast measurements.