Annonce

L'ébauche du miroir M5 de l'ELT est terminée

15 mai 2024

M5, le cinquième miroir sur le trajet optique de l'Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) de l'ESO, a franchi une étape importante : son ébauche, la pièce de matériau façonnée qui est ensuite polie pour devenir le miroir, vient d'être finalisée. L'ELT sera équipé de cinq miroirs au total, et M5 est le plus petit d'entre eux - mais la construction de son ébauche n'a pas été une mince affaire. La société française Mersen Boostec a fabriqué cette pièce remarquable dans ses installations près de Tarbes, dans le sud-ouest de la France.

M5 est un miroir plat et elliptique de 2,7 mètres sur 2,2 mètres, constitué de six segments brasés ensemble. Cela peut sembler peu par rapport à l'énorme miroir primaire de 39 mètres de l'ELT, mais en réalité, il s'agit du plus grand miroir oscillant (type "Tip Tilt") au monde.

Avec M4, M5 est un élément crucial du système d'optique adaptative de l'ELT : leur synergie unique permettra à l'ELT de prendre des images extrêmement nettes, en compensant les perturbations causées par les mécanismes du télescope, les vibrations du vent et les turbulences atmosphériques. Pour stabiliser les images, M5 ajustera sa position 10 fois par seconde, sans se courber.

Pour relever ce défi, Mersen Boostec a dû fabriquer l'ébauche M5 dans un matériau très spécial : le carbure de silicium, qui est à la fois très rigide et très léger. Sur le dessus, une fine couche de carbure de silicium a été déposée atome par atome, afin que la surface de l'ébauche puisse être polie avec une précision inférieure à un centième de l'épaisseur d'un cheveu humain. 

La société française Safran Reosc, qui vient de recevoir l'ébauche, l'intégrera à son support, polira l'ébauche assemblée et fournira les équipements nécessaires à sa manipulation, son transport, son exploitation et sa maintenance. La société espagnole SENER Aeroespacial réalise la conception, la construction et la vérification de la structure du miroir (son système de support), ainsi que de son système de contrôle et de ses équipements auxiliaires. 

L'Extremely Large Telescope de l'ESO, le plus grand œil du monde sur le ciel, est prêt à relever les défis astronomiques les plus profonds de notre époque, promettant des découvertes révolutionnaires une fois qu'il aura vu sa première lumière à la fin de cette décennie. La construction de chacun de ses composants, comme le M5, repousse les limites de la technologie.

Liens

Contacts

Bárbara Ferreira
ESO Media Manager
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6670
Email: press@eso.org

À propos de l'annonce

Identification:ann24008

Images

Inspection de l'ébauche du miroir M5 chez Mersen Boostec
Inspection de l'ébauche du miroir M5 chez Mersen Boostec
A 3D rendering of an oval mirror standing on top of a mechanical structure, in front of a black background and illuminated by a blue light from below. The mirror reflects the ceiling of a white room with construction equipment and bright blue lights.
ELT's M5 mirror (artist's impression)
Seulement en anglais

Vidéos

The smallest ELT mirror is a big challenge | ELT Updates
The smallest ELT mirror is a big challenge | ELT Updates
Seulement en anglais
Animation artistique montrant le mouvement d’oscillation du miroir M5
Animation artistique montrant le mouvement d’oscillation du miroir M5
ELT M5 blank video compilation
ELT M5 blank video compilation
Seulement en anglais

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