Thermo-optically driven adaptive mirror based on thermal expansion:: preparation and resolution

A thermo-optically driven adaptive mirror is presented. It is based on the thermal expansion of a thin film heated with a light pattern. We describe a procedure for the preparation of a silicon elastomer with a high-quality optical surface. This material, Sylgard 184, has a high linear thermal expansion coefficient of 3.1 center dot 10(- 4) K-1. Surface modulations are recorded in an interferometer. Modulations of 350 nm result at an intensity of 370 mW/cm(2). The resolution is measured with a line pattern. The contrast drops to 30 % at 1.6 line pairs per millimeter (lp/ mm). (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.