From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Mon Apr 07 2003 - 23:59:44 MDT
I like this paper for the title alone
http://xxx.lanl.gov/list/astro-ph/new
Title: Nanoengineered Astronomical Optics
Authors: E.F. Borra, A.M. Ritcey, R. Bergamasco, P. Laird, J. Gingras, <A HREF="http://xxx.lanl.gov/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Dallaire_M/0/1/0/all/0/1">M.
Dallaire</A>, L. Da Silva, H. Yockell-Lelievre
Comments: Submitted to Astrophysical Journal Letters. 18 pages, 4 figures
We describe a technology for the fabrication of inexpensive and versatile
mirrors through the use of a new type of nanoengineered optical material
composed by the spreading of a self-assembling reflective colloidal film
spread at the surface of a liquid. These new reflecting liquids offer
interesting possibilities for astronomical instrumentation. For example, they
can replace mercury in conventional rotating liquid mirrors. The main
advantages offered include extremely low cost and, by coating a viscous
liquid, the possibility of tilting the mirror by a few tens of degrees. We
also have coated ferromagnetic liquids with these reflecting films. The
resulting surfaces can be shaped by the application of a magnetic field,
yielding reflecting surfaces that can have complicated shapes that can
rapidly shift with time. These inexpensive and versatile optical elements
could have numerous scientific and technological applications. Among possible
astronomical applications, they could be used to make large inexpensive
adaptive mirrors exhibiting strokes ranging from nanometers to several
millimeters.
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