For infra-red astronomical observations, one of METIS’s subsystems (the chopper) must cancel out background IR radiation. This is done by recording background radiation in ‘empty’ space and subtracting that from the area of interest (chopping). Chopping is highly dynamic (8 mrad stroke in <10 ms). Acceleration of the chopper’s mirror and strain in its elastic elements lead to deformations of the optical surface. A novel method (FEM-analysis of mode shapes, combined with state-space modelling, and optical analysis) is used to analyze the effect these disturbance forces have on the optical train, and to drive design decisions of key elements the design of the chopper.

Spreker: : Ties van Loon, Mechanical designer

Company: JPE

Date: October 6 2025

Time: 12:02pm          

Location: Teams

Please send an email to info@dspe.nl if you are interested in following this lecture.

Normally every first monday of the month DSPE organizes for their members a lunch lecture. Each time there is a different topic that a speaker is going to talk about. Due to the holiday period we will organize this lecture in the second week.

Questions can be asked after the 25 minutes presentation. If you want to keep informed about these lunch lectures please send an email to info@dspe.nl