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Re: [ATM] Lateral Wire Test



Alfredo,

I haven't used the test for a while, but I have been experimenting 
with two setups - one remote-controlled via a Dos laptop:
http://web.telia.com/~u41105032/tester/tester.htm
and also a tester with a geared-down motion via a fulcrum and a 
micrometer.

With the former on a "normal" table, I could get credible and 
consistent readings - with the latter, nothing like it. My conclusion 
is that even touching that setup at all will move it by a micron or a 
few - I don't know. Maybe clamping it down to a really sturdy table 
would have worked, but the remote-controlled, hands-free approach is 
just fine.

This should give my answer your last question - I believe the main 
problem is that the setup must be immune to disturbances by touch.

>>>I've been playing a bit with the LTW to test a 12.5 F4.7 mirror but 
I am not getting consistent results. Could some of the list experts on 
this test give me some advice? My doubts are:

>>>How far inside focus should I take my readings?>>>

This can be tested - try a position with a fairly wide band at the 
center, it will be a little narrower towards the edge. I don't think it 
is too critical, closer to "focus" (or actually paraxial COC!)should 
give less influence of other factors, but perhaps more difficulty 
reading close to the edge.

>>>Is a wire diameter 0.08mm good thin enough?>>>

The wire and source widths are not terribly critical - I prefer to 
make a thin line on a piece of transparent plastic using a sharp 
scalpel blade, as it is much easier to handle than an actual wire, and 
easy to try different widths  - or an etched line on a glass reticle I 
have frome some microscope equipment. As a light source I used a laser 
diode at low current - very narrow. Either way, you should see the 
bright center line of the diffraction pattern - if not, the "wire" or 
source is too wide.

>>>How critial is the measuring of the mirror to wire distance and the 
ROC?
As in Foucault - a few mm should not matter much. But once you get 
some readings to try, you can recalculate adding and subtracting a few 
mm from what you measure to see how much it changes the estimated 
figure.

>>>What are the main source of error to watch out for?>>>

See above - touching and disturbing the setup while moving the stage. 

Good luck, 

Nils Olof
----
I am using a digital micrometer with a 1 micron resolution on a home 
made aluminium caustic tester, but I am not sure of the actual movement 
of the stage correspondding to the micrometer reading. 

Regards,

Alfredo


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