Optical performance criteria in optimum structural design

Optimum structural design techniques have been used in the design of lightweight mirror and optical systems for the past few years. Their application has been limited to the use of standard structural response as design criteria. This paper addresses the use of optical performance measures as design criteria within the optimum structural design loop. These optical measures could be any Zernike coefficient, the residual RMS or the peak-to-valley after any Zernike term has been removed. Examples include: Limit trefoil amplitude Minimize surface RMS after best-fit power removed Limit peak-to-valley after best-fit plane removed These techniques allow for the optimum design criteria to be more meaningful in practical optomechanical design problems. A lightweight primary mirror and mount system is used an example.