Electromagnet Array Design Enabling Active Control of Future Ferrofluidic Liquid Mirror Telescopes
Author(s)
Jourda, Griffin H.C.
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Abstract
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Zenith project seeks to advance the maturity of liquid-mirror telescopes (LMTs) for future utilization in ground-based observatories and space domain awareness. To this end, Honeywell Aerospace, Soter Technologies, and the Georgia Institute of Technology Low-Gravity Science and Technology Laboratory (LGST) have partnered to develop the Ferrofluidic Ionic Liquid Mirror Telescope (FILM). FILM incorporates a permanent-magnet Halbach array to suspend a ferrofluid, which forms the optical surface of the telescope, in addition to an active control layer utilizing electromagnetism to perform corrections to the optical surface via magnetic field adjustment. In this manner, FILM escapes traditional limitations of LMTs by enabling off-zenith pointing capabilities. This paper presents a viable solution for the FILM active control layer in the form of an electromagnetic Halbach array consisting of electromagnet coils driven by H-bridge drivers and controlled via a modular architecture of sub-arrays, each containing logic and power elements to drive a portion of the larger active control layer. The report also highlights the development, fabrication, and initial test results of an 8 x 8 demonstrator array, showing the electrical feasibility of driving sub-arrays. Finally, the paper identifies power distribution and mechanical design as key technical challenges in scaling the FILM active control layer to enable large telescope mirrors.
Sponsor
DARPA DSO, contract number HR001125C0308
Date
2025-08
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Text
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Research Report
Masters Project
Masters Project
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