MELIPAL M2 mirror in the coating tank

The light-weight Beryllium mirror (about 50 kg) with a diameter of 1.1-m and covered with a layer of Nickel was carefully cleaned. It was subsequently placed in the large coating plant in which a target of exceedingly pure Aluminium is bombarded by fast argon ions. In this "sputtering" process, large numbers of Aluminium atoms are released from the target and deposited on the mirror. After about 15 minutes, the Aluminium layer had reached the desired thickness. When the plant was opened, the reflectivity was measured as 91%, an excellent value.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0003c
Type:Collage
Release date:21 January 2000
Related releases:eso0003
Size:1280 x 960 px

About the Object

Name:Mirror, Very Large Telescope
Type:Unspecified : Technology : Observatory : Telescope
Category:Paranal

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