The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) project required a method for verifying that the segments of the primary mirror, which are folded for launch, will align to within sub-wavelength tolerance upon deployment. The initial misalignment between segments is much greater than the measurement range of a conventional laser interferometer. The multiple-wavelength PhaseCam MW dynamic laser interferometer was developed for this application. The much longer “synthetic” wavelength generated by the instrument is capable of measuring the initial misalignment. As the segments are brought closer to alignment the wavelength is stepped down for increasing resolution. |
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