[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https:\/\/eic-live-mirror.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Miroir_v2_pale.jpg” custom_padding=”3%||3%||true|false” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-9d5d11f9-d654-432d-8206-34ad20a6d54e%22:%91%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”none” custom_padding=”10px||10px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(252,250,246,0.55)” hover_enabled=”0″ border_radii=”off||100px||” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_divider color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Cormorant Garamond|500|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”45px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_divider color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#fcfaf6″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-30px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” text_orientation=”right” custom_padding=”||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”16px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Astronomical imaging of ever-fainter objects and imaging the Earth from space require much higher angular resolution and dynamic range than current optical telescopes can deliver. Mirrors, the critical elements of these systems, are technologically challenging to improve because they must maintain an exceedingly precise shape while resisting deformation from gravity and variable wind loads in the open environments in which they operate. For over a century, the primary technology for shaping mirrors has been that of \u201cabrasive polishing,\u201d with stiffness to resist environmental deformation provided by steel and glass, which increases the mass significantly.<\/p>\n
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This is impractical for systems larger than a few meters. Current mirror telescopes and solar concentrators exceed this limit and depend on cumbersome active mirror surface shape control.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/eic-live-mirror.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/our-mission-image.jpg” title_text=”our mission image” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” animation_direction=”right” box_shadow_style=”preset2″ box_shadow_horizontal=”20px” box_shadow_vertical=”20px” box_shadow_blur=”20px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_font=”EB Garamond||||||||” text_orientation=”right” custom_padding=”||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”16px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In this context, the EIC-funded Live-Mirror project proposes a novel disruptive solution: lightweight mirrors made of fire-polished slumped glass sheets and actively supported by electro-active polymer-based actuators. By using advanced manufacturing techniques and real-time control systems, these \u2018live mirrors\u2019 offer superior optical quality at a fraction of the weight and cost, potentially revolutionising telescope and solar energy technologies. The project promises to pave the way for large and precise space- and ground-based telescopes and innovative solar energy systems through additive manufacturing and precise slumping techniques.<\/p>\n
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The EIC Live-Mirror project will establish a new paradigm: we will shape thin, very smooth, \u201cfire-polished,\u201d lightweight glass to a predetermined curvature and generate dynamically controlled stiffness by using the addressable energy of electroactive polymers (EAPs) to resist environmental deformation \u2013 making what we call a \u201cLive-Mirror.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”none” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” border_width_right=”1px” border_color_right=”#000000″ border_color_bottom=”#000000″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/eic-live-mirror.eu\/?page_id=2339&et_fb=1&PageSpeed=off” button_text=”Our Impact” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”16px” button_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”100px” button_font=”Cormorant Garamond|700|||||||” button_icon=”9||divi||400″ button_icon_color=”#000000″ button_on_hover=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Our missionAstronomical imaging of ever-fainter objects and imaging the Earth from space require much higher angular resolution and dynamic range than current optical telescopes can deliver. Mirrors, the critical elements of these systems, are technologically challenging to improve because they must maintain an exceedingly precise shape while resisting deformation from gravity and variable wind loads […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2334","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n