Modeling and design of square magnetic fluid deformable mirrors

Abstract

Adaptive Optical (AO) systems are used in various application areas to enhance the performance of optical systems. Wavefront correctors play a very important role in the performance of the AO system. Magnetic fluid based liquid deformable mirror is a novel type of wavefront correctors and its reflective surface can be deformed using a locally applied magnetic field generated by an array of underneath actuators. Compared with the conventional deformable mirror, the magnetic fluid deformable mirror (MFDM) has the advantages of continuous and smooth mirror surface, large shape deformation, low manufacture cost and easy extension. In this paper, a MFDM with a square array of actuators is proposed for the wavefront control of laser beams. First, the model of the proposed MFDM is derived in Cartesian Coordinates. Then, the structure and parameters of the MFDM are optimally designed based on the derived model, and the performance of the MFDM is simulated using the MATLAB and COMSOL Multiphysics software. Finally, an AO system with a fabricated prototype of square MFDM is setup to test the performance of MFDM on the wavefront control of laser beams, and the experimental results illustrate the desirable performance of the proposed MFDM.