[ATM] testing an f/2.6 mirror?

[Jim Burrows]

At 2007-12-16 05:33 -0800, Guy Brandenburg wrote:

>Somebody wants me to test test an f/2.6 mirror, (8 inch diameter)? 
>Sounds to me like something one would need a wire test to do, and 
>I've never done that before. Any thoughts?

The lateral wire test (LWT) is much better than Foucault at that f/, 
and better than Ronchi because you get measurements rather than 
guesses.  Essentially you mount a "pinstick" on the mirror rather 
than a mask, and run the source and wire beyond the mirror's 
ROC.  Sixtests has a few words about reducing the test data:

         http://home.earthlink.net/~burrjaw/public/win6.zip 
(Win32, 2007-03-17, 372 k)

Let's see, Diffract has some simulations of what you see in a wire test:

         http://home.earthlink.net/~burrjaw/public/diffract.zip 
(Win32, 2004-04-12, 375 k)

It's cute - the wire shadow has a bright line in the center - helps measuring.

Some of the other test routines (FigureXP?) may have something, too.

         -- Jim Burrows
         -- http://home.earthlink.net/~burrjaw
         -- mailto:burrjaw at earthlink.net
         -- Seattle N47.4723 W122.3662 (WGS84)