Performance of a precision high-density deformable mirror for extremely high contrast imaging astronomy from space

Active wavefront correction of a space telescope provides a technology path for extremely high contrast imaging astronomy at levels well beyond the capabilities of current telescope systems. A precision deformable mirror technology intended specifically for wavefront correction in a visible/near-infrared space telescope has been developed at Xinetics and extensively tested at JPL over the past several years. Active wavefront phase correction has been demonstrated to 1 Angstrom rms over the spatial frequency range accessible to a mirror with an array of actuators on a 1 mm pitch. It is based on a modular electroceramic design that is scalable to 1000s of actuator elements coupled to the surface of a thin mirror facesheet. It is controlled by a low-power multiplexed driver system. Demonstrated surface figure control, high actuator density, and low power dissipation are described. Performance specifications are discussed in the context of the Eclipse point design for a coronagraphic space telescope.