^^Abstract^^
We are developing deformable membrane mirrors for a space mission in which five nanosatellites will demonstrate in-orbit self-assembly of a space telescope. These mirrors are made of thin layers of piezoelectric polymer, patterned in unique ways to provide surface-parallel actuation. Each 10-centimeter-diameter mirror contains on the order of 100 independent actuating elements that can be controlled individually to achieve optical precision in a 0.8-meter-diameter sparse primary mirror. We have used complementary facilities at the Kavli Nanoscience Institute and JPL's Microdevices Lab to develop processes to form micro-thick layers of piezoelectric polymer with the required electrode patterns. We are also developing a fabrication process for a bi-metallic reflective layer that serves as the thermally stable mirror with ultra-low thermal expansion.
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^^Bios^^
This talk will be led by Pellegrino—an expert on lightweight and deployable structures—and has three other speakers: Keith Patterson (Caltech graduate student), Namiko Yamamoto (a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech’s Keck Institute for Space Studies,), and Risaku Toda (a senior processor at the Microdevices Laboratory and a senior member of the technical staff).

Light refreshments will be served after the seminar.

This talk is one in the monthly seminar series presented by ?Caltech’s Kavli Nanoscience Institute and JPL's Microdevices Lab.