TY - JOUR A1 - Kazasidis, Orestis A1 - Verpoort, Sven A1 - Wittrock, Ulrich T1 - Sensor for dynamic focus control of a deformable mirror JF - Appl. Opt. N2 - We recently presented a novel unimorph deformable mirror which allows for dynamic focus shift with an actuation rate of 2 kHz. Such mirrors suffer from hysteresis and creep. Therefore, they have to be operated in closed-loop. For this purpose, we developed a defocus sensor based on an astigmatic detection system. In this paper, we present the sensor design and discuss its performance. KW - deformable mirrors KW - diode lasers KW - laser beams KW - laser machining KW - sensor performance Y1 - 2020 UR - https://www.osapublishing.org/ao/abstract.cfm?uri=ao-59-18-5625 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/AO.392970 IS - 59 SP - 5625 EP - 5630 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kazasidis, Orestis A1 - Wittrock, Ulrich T1 - Interferometric measurement of the temperature coefficient of the refractive index dn/dT and the coefficient of thermal expansion of Pr:YLF laser crystals JF - Opt. Expr. N2 - We report interferometric measurements of the temperature coefficient of the refractive index (dn=dT) and the coefficient of thermal expansion (a) of a praseodymium-doped yttrium lithium fluoride (Pr:YLF) crystal and of a fused silica reference sample. Our phase-resolved interferometric method yields a large number of data points and thus allows a precise measurement and a good error estimation. Furthermore, both dn=dT and a are obtained simultaneously from a single measurement which reduces errors that can occur in separate measurements. Over the temperature range from 20 °C to 80 °C, the value of dn=dT of Pr:YLF decreases from -5.2 x 10-6 /K to -6.2 x 10-6 /K for the ordinary refractive index and from -7.6 x 10-6 /K to -8.6 x 10-6 /K for the extraordinary refractive index. The coefficient of thermal expansion for the a-axis of Pr:YLF increases from 16.4 x 10-6 /K to 17.8 x 10-6 /K over the same temperature range. KW - refractive index change KW - thermal expansion coefficient KW - laser crystal KW - praseodymium KW - yttrium lithium fluoride Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-7720 VL - 22 SP - 30683 EP - 30696 PB - Optical Society of America ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Leitz, Sinje A1 - Gerhards, Maximilian A1 - Verpoort, Sven A1 - Wittrock, Ulrich A1 - Freudling, Maximilian A1 - Grzesik, Andreas A1 - Erhard, Markus A1 - Hallibert, Pascal T1 - Vibration and shock testing of a 50 mm aperture unimorph deformable mirror T2 - Proceedings of the International Conference on Space Optics (ICSO) N2 - We present our latest results on a refined unimorph deformable mirror which was developed in the frame of the ESA GSTP activity ”Enabling Technologies for Piezo-Based Deformable Mirrors in Active Optics Correction Chains”. The identified baseline concept with the soft piezoceramic material PIC151 successfully sustained all vibration requirements (17.8 gRMS random and 20 g sine) and shock testing (300 g SRS). We cover the mirror design development which reduces the stress in the brittle piezo-ceramic by 90 % compared to the design from a former GSTP activity. We briefly address the optical characterization of the deformable mirror, namely the achieved Zernike amplitudes as well as the unpowered surface deformation (1.7 µm) and active flattening (12.3 nmRMS). The mirror produces low-order Zernike modes with a stroke of several tens of micrometer over a correction aperture of 50 mm, which makes the mirror a versatile tool for space telescopes. KW - active optics KW - adaptive optics KW - deformable mirror KW - vibration damping KW - space telescopes Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-137401 UR - https://icso2020.com/ VL - 11852 SP - 118524N ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Perchermeier, Julian A1 - Wittrock, Ulrich T1 - Precise measurements of the thermo-optical aberrations of an Yb:YAG thin-disk laser JF - Opt. Lett. N2 - We report on interferometric measurements of the thermo-optical aberrations of the laser medium of an Yb:YAG thin-disk laser in pumped and cw lasing conditions at several pump-power levels with a mean repeatability of 5 nm. These measurements build the basis for future intracavity compensation of the aberrations with our deformable mirror in order to improve the fundamental-mode efficiency. Y1 - 2013 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-6854 VL - 38 SP - 2422 EP - 2424 PB - OSA ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pues, Patrick A1 - Laube, Michael A1 - Fischer, Stefan A1 - Schröder, Franziska A1 - Schwung, Sebastian A1 - Rytz, Daniel A1 - Fiehler, Torben A1 - Wittrock, Ulrich A1 - Jüstel, Thomas T1 - Luminescence and up-conversion of single crystalline Lu3Al5O12:Pr3+ JF - Journal of Luminescence N2 - This work deals with the spectroscopic properties of praseodymium doped single crystalline lutetium aluminum garnet (LuAG:Pr3+). A special focus was set on temperature- and time-dependent spectroscopy. Beyond the well-known down-conversion luminescence of LuAG:Pr3+, also UV-A/B up-conversion luminescence under excitation with a 488 nm laser was thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, the results of the spectroscopic investigations on the single crystalline material were supplemented and compared with measurements on a microscale powder sample. In addition, to the spectroscopic investigations, mechanistic considerations are presented to obtain a closer look at the up-conversion process in LuAG:Pr3+. We promote the thesis of a temperature-dependent energy transfer up-conversion mechanism. KW - Pr3+ luminescence KW - Single crystal KW - Photoluminescence KW - Up-conversion KW - Temperature-dependent spectroscopy Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2021.117987 VL - 234 SP - 117987 EP - 117995 ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Rausch, Peter A1 - Verpoort, Sven A1 - Wittrock, Ulrich T1 - Novel unimorph adaptive mirrors for astronomy applications T2 - Proc. SPIE 8447, Adaptive Optics Systems III, 844764 N2 - We have developed a new type of unimorph deformable mirror for the correction of low-order Zernike modes. The mirror features a clear aperture of 50 mm combined with large peak-to-valley amplitudes of up to 35 μm. Newly developed fabrication processes allow the use of prefabricated, coated, super-polished glass substrates. The mirror's unique features suggest the use in several astronomical applications like the compensation of atmospheric aberrations seen by laser beacons, low light astronomy, and the use in woofer-tweeter systems. Additionally, the design enables an efficient correction of the inevitable wave-front error imposed by the floppy structure of primary mirrors in future large space telescopes. We have modeled the mirror by using analytical as well as finite element models. We will present design, key features and manufacturing steps of the deformable mirror. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-6203 PB - SPIE ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Rausch, Peter A1 - Verpoort, Sven A1 - Wittrock, Ulrich T1 - Characterization of a miniaturized unimorph deformable mirror for high power cw-solid state lasers T2 - Proc. SPIE 8253, MEMS Adaptive Optics VI, 825309 N2 - We have developed a new type of unimorph deformable mirror for real-time intra-cavity phase control of high power cw-lasers. The approach is innovative in its combination of super-polished and pre-coated highly reflective substrates, the miniaturization of the unimorph principle, and the integration of a monolithic tip/tilt functionality. Despite the small optical aperture of only 9 mm diameter, the mirror is able to produce a stroke of several microns for low order Zernike modes, paired with a residual static root-mean-square aberration of less than 0.04 µm. In this paper, the characteristics of the mirror such as the influence functions, the dynamic behavior, and the power handling capability are reported. The mirror was subjected to a maximum of 490 W of laser-light at a wavelength of 1030 nm. Due to the high reflectivity of over 99.998 percent the mirror is able to withstand intensities up to 1.5 MW/cm2. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-6226 PB - SPIE ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Rausch, Peter A1 - Verpoort, Sven A1 - Wittrock, Ulrich T1 - Performance verification and environmental testing of a unimorph deformable mirror for space applications. T2 - Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Space Optics - ICSO, Tenerife, Spain N2 - Concepts for future large space telescopes require an active optics system to mitigate aberrations caused by thermal deformation and gravitational release. Such a system would allow on-site correction of wave-front errors and ease the requirements for thermal and gravitational stability of the optical train. In the course of the ESA project "Development of Adaptive Deformable Mirrors for Space Instruments" we have developed a unimorph deformable mirror designed to correct for low-order aberrations and dedicated to be used in space environment. We briefly report on design and manufacturing of the deformable mirror and present results from performance verifications and environmental testing. KW - space optics KW - adaptive optics KW - deformable mirror KW - unimorph Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-7716 UR - http://www.icsoproceedings.org PB - FH Münster ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rausch, Peter A1 - Verpoort, Sven A1 - Wittrock, Ulrich T1 - Unimorph deformable mirror for space telescopes: design and manufacturing JF - Opt. Expr. N2 - Large space telescopes made of deployable and lightweight structures suffer from aberrations caused by thermal deformations, gravitational release, and alignment errors which occur during the deployment procedure. An active optics system would allow on-site correction of wave-front errors, and ease the requirements on thermal and mechanical stability of the optical train. In the course of a project funded by the European Space Agency we have developed and manufactured a unimorph deformable mirror based on piezoelectric actuation. The mirror is able to work in space environment and is designed to correct for large aberrations of low order with high surface fidelity. This paper discusses design, manufacturing and performance results of the deformable mirror. KW - Active or adaptive optics KW - Telescopes KW - Space optics KW - Space instrumentation Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-8227 VL - 23 SP - 19469 EP - 19477 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rausch, Peter A1 - Verpoort, Sven A1 - Wittrock, Ulrich T1 - Unimorph deformable mirror for space telescopes: environmental testing JF - Opt. Expr. N2 - We have developed and manufactured a unimorph deformable mirror for space telescopes based on piezoelectric actuation. The mirror features 44 actuators, has an aperture of 50 mm, and is designed to reproduce low-order Zernike modes with a stroke of several tens of µm. We assessed the space compliance by operating the mirror in thermal vacuum, and exposing it to random and sinusoidal vibrations, as well as to ionizing irradiation. Additionally, the operational life time and the laser power handling capability were tested. The mirror was successfully operated in thermal vacuum at 100 K. We report on the conducted tests and the methods used to evaluate the mirror´s performance, and discuss the compliance with the demanded requirements KW - active or adaptive optics KW - telescopes thermal effects vibration analysis KW - radiation KW - space optics KW - space instrumentation Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-8530 VL - 24 SP - 1528 EP - 1542 ER -