Headline: Building the World’s Largest Optical Telescope: A Look at the Mirrors Behind the Innovation
In the bone-dry Atacama desert in Chile, the European Space Observatory (ESO) is constructing the world’s largest optical telescope, known as the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Scheduled to start collecting images in 2028, this groundbreaking telescope is set to revolutionize our understanding of the universe.
At the heart of this technological marvel are five giant mirrors, each a masterpiece of optical design. Dr. Elise Vernet, an adaptive optics specialist at ESO, describes the primary mirror, M1, as the largest mirror ever made for an optical telescope. Comprising 798 hexagonal mirror segments, M1 will collect 100 million times more light than the human eye and must maintain precise positioning and shape.
Another key component is the M4 mirror, the largest deformable mirror ever made, capable of changing shape 1,000 times per second to correct for atmospheric turbulence and telescope vibrations. Made up of six petals of a glass-ceramic material, the M4 mirror is a testament to precision engineering.
Meanwhile, in Oberkochen, Germany, Zeiss is producing ultra-flat mirrors for extreme ultraviolet lithography machines used in printing computer chips. These mirrors reflect light at very small wavelengths, enabling the printing of more transistors on a silicon wafer. Zeiss’s latest technology aims to print about three times more structures on the same area, paving the way for more powerful computer chips.
As technology continues to advance, mirrors play a crucial role in pushing the boundaries of innovation. Whether capturing the light of the cosmos or enabling the production of cutting-edge computer chips, mirrors are at the forefront of scientific and technological progress.
