A concept for a membranous floating mirror

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Send offprint request to: G. Vernois

Received: 16 January 1997
Accepted: 4 September 1997

Abstract

We present the principle of a membranous mirror, free-floating at its edge and tied at its center. Its shape is controlled from a control surface, which is itself a membrane. This surface has autonomous integrated means for measuring, analysing and acting upon the mirror. We discuss the possibility of building gound-based or space telescopes using this concept.