| Customers: Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) Contractors: Lytkarinsky Plant of Optical Glass (LPOG) Project date: 2011/03 - 2017/09
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State Corporation Rostec on November 3, 2017 announced upgrade of the main mirror of the Big Telescope of Azimuthal (BTA) which is set in Karachay-Cherkessia and as of November, 2017 is the largest telescope in Eurasia. Upgrade of a six-meter mirror happened for the benefit of Special astrophysical observatory of RAS which ensures continuous functioning of the telescope on requests of the Russian and foreign scientists.
Prerequisites
The telescope was constructed in 1975 and for the 30-year period of operation of the telescope the surface layer of a mirror was damaged that led to deterioration in its reflecting capability.
Project Progress
Specialists of the Lytkarinsky Plant of Optical Glass (LPOG) of holding Schwab (enters into State Corporation Rostec), upgraded a 42-ton mirror using technology for nanometric processing of astromirrors.
As the CEO of LZOS Alexander Ignatov explained, within the project complex and volume work is carried out. Monolithic mirrors of similar dimensions are not made any more. Thin or compound mirrors are generally applied. During upgrade from a mirror surface the method of milling deleted a high layer 8 mm thick therefore it returned to perfect condition.
Especially for delivery of so unique optics from Karachevo-Circassia and back specialists of the enterprise developed and made a transport container and the load gripping device. Many calculations were made for the first time, in total works on a mirror were conducted 6 years.
Project Results
By data, the reached quality of a surface of a mirror increases resolution capability of the telescope approximately by 30%, at the best atmospheric conditions, and allows to study in other galaxies of the place where origin of life is the most probable.
The mirror collects a million times more light energy, than a human eye therefore with its help it is possible to investigate the most remote sections of the Universe and to see objects which arose from the moment of its origin, more than 13 billion years ago.
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