Coherent phasing of segmented mirrors

The technical issues associated with a coherently phased segmented mirror can be divided into two types. The first involves the issues of manufacturing the surface quality of the mirror segments themselves (coherent phasing of individual segments). The second involves assembly issues of initializing in 1 G and retaining in 0 G an aggregate segmented mirror (coherent phasing between individual segments). Using a rectangular coordinate system at the vertex of a mirror segment, the rigid body motions are the six translational and rotational degrees of freedom. A first cut primary mirror wavefront error budget is presented. For a minimum operational wavelength of 30 micrometers, the derived values from the budget are: segment surface quality (0.45 micrometers RMS), radius mismatch (50 PPM), segment piston error (1.3 micrometers, segment tip/tilt error (0.6 microrad). Either active or passive segmented mirrors can be addressed, but if the surface quality of the off-axis segment and the radius matching requirements can be passively met, then only segment alignment need be sensed and controlled during operation in orbit. For the active mirror case, dimensional stability of the mirror material during operation is a key factor in establishing the degree of active figure control required.