Design and finite element analysis of lightmass silicon carbide primary mirror

Primary mirror is one of the key components in the space remote sensing system. To minimize the mass of the mirror without compromising its stiffness and decrease the deformation of the mirror surface at the different temperatures are the mainly two objects in the development of the primary mirror. Silicon carbide (SiC), the most promising optical material, was used as the material of the primary mirror with triangle lightmass structure in a Cassegrain system. By using finite element method, the properties of the SiC mirror were compared with that of the traditional Be mirror and fused silica mirror. The results of static, dynamic and thermo-mechanical analysis indicate that the deformation of the mirror surface caused by temperature field is much bigger than that caused by gravity field. The SiC mirror has the best overall properties, and the SiC material is much suitable for the primary mirror.