MELIPAL M2 mirror in the coating tank
The light-weight Beryllium mirror (about 50 kg) with a diameter of 1.1-m and covered with a layer of Nickel was carefully cleaned. It was subsequently placed in the large coating plant in which a target of exceedingly pure Aluminium is bombarded by fast argon ions. In this "sputtering" process, large numbers of Aluminium atoms are released from the target and deposited on the mirror. After about 15 minutes, the Aluminium layer had reached the desired thickness. When the plant was opened, the reflectivity was measured as 91%, an excellent value.
Crédit:ESO
À propos de l'image
Identification: | eso0003c |
Type: | Collage |
Date de publication: | 21 janvier 2000 |
Communiqués de presse en rapport: | eso0003 |
Taille: | 1280 x 960 px |
À propos de l'objet
Nom: | Mirror, Very Large Telescope |
Type: | Unspecified : Technology : Observatory : Telescope |
Catégorie: | Paranal |