Re: ATM comments on the Adler flexed-mirror design in current S&T?

[Anthony Stillman <atmer@flash.net>]

>...flexing a spherical
>mirror into a paraboloid. Sounds revolutionary


Stan,

As Dwight points out there are a few issues which could use some inventive
engineering.  The apporach is very promising.  I encourage everyone to down
load the software and take a look.

I expect that there are aspects of this invention which are original and
worthy of the patent being pursued. However, the concept of generating a
conic aspheric optical surface by membrane deformation goes back quite a
ways.  Bill Kelly developed  his ideas ten year ago (see S&T June 1992).
Professor Adler credits this work as his inspiration.  Prior to this,
several publications note the use of a central pulling bolt in the creation
of long focal length vari-focus flux concentrators.  I believe the concept
is still in use at the Barstow Solar facility.   Over the past thirty years
formation of optical surfaces by pressure differential deformation has
appeared numerous times in the optics literature and, at least onece in the
acoustic literature.  An article even appeared in S&T in 1979.

What Alan has done is made the mathematics accessible by developing the
necessary software.  What Bill and Alan together have done is engineer away
many of the problems and identified others so that we all benefit.

It has been suggested to me that this apporach is un-aesthetic by its
conversion of a passive component, the mirror, into a active component.  I
find this argument specious.  Over the course of viewing session thermal
effects alter the primary figure constantly.  This approach at least
provides some accommodation for this effect.

Anthony