{"id":8783,"date":"2026-02-25T09:21:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T08:21:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microgate.it\/?page_id=8783"},"modified":"2026-08-12T07:47:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T06:47:42","slug":"great-adaptive-optics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/microgate.it\/en\/astronomy-space\/great-adaptive-optics\/","title":{"rendered":"Great adaptive optics"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Research and innovation in Adaptive Optics<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Driving the future of astronomy<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Pioneering Adaptive Optics for Modern Astronomy<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Redefining optical correction for modern telescopes<\/h2>\n\t\t
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Introduced in 1993 by Pietro Salinari at the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory and industrialized through the collaboration with Roberto Biasi, Microgate\u2019s Founder and CTO, the adaptive secondary mirror has become a cornerstone technology for optical correction in modern astronomical telescopes.

Since then, Microgate has been at the forefront of its development, designing and delivering state-of-the-art control electronics, now in their fifth generation. In partnership with ADS International, and with the scientific support of INAF and Politecnico di Milano, Microgate provides complete adaptive mirror systems that continue to set new benchmarks in astronomical instrumentation and high-precision optics.<\/p>\n\t\t

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The Giant Eye in the sky<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

ESO ELT M4 mirror<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t
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The M4 adaptive mirror of ESO\u2019s Extremely Large Telescope is the largest deformable mirror ever built. With its 2.5\u2011meter diameter and more than 5,000 actuators, it can change shape in real time to correct atmospheric turbulence.<\/p>

This breakthrough ensures more stable and sharper images than ever before.<\/p>

Microgate, together with ADS International and INAF, has been responsible for the design, development, production and test of this unique system, confirming its role as a global leader in adaptive optics and precision control technologies.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n \t\t\t

Discover more<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\/\t\t\n<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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From design to performance<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

The engineering behind Adaptive Secondary Mirrors.

Adaptive Secondary Mirrors enable ground-based telescopes to counteract the blurring effects of Earth\u2019s atmosphere. By reshaping the mirror surface thousands of times per second, these systems restore image sharpness to a level comparable to that of space telescopes \u2014 while preserving the much larger apertures achievable from the ground.<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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System architecture<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\/\t\t
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Microgate\u2019s adaptive secondary mirrors are built around an ultra-thin mirror shell, typically less than 2 mm thick, designed to flex rapidly without mechanical stress. A rigid, thermally stable reference structure ensures long-term positional accuracy, while a dedicated cold plate supports the actuators and provides efficient thermal control. Integrated metrology continuously monitors mirror deformation with nanometer-level precision, guaranteeing stability and repeatability.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Electromagnetic actuators<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\/\t\t
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Mirror shaping is achieved through thousands of contactless voice-coil actuators that apply controlled magnetic forces directly to the mirror shell. This friction-free architecture eliminates hysteresis and wear, enabling smooth, precise, and highly repeatable motion. Ultra-fast control electronics enables real-time corrections that compensate for atmospheric turbulence and deliver space-like image quality from the ground<\/p>\n\t\t

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CONTACTLESS ADAPTIVE MIRRORS FACTS<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Our Engineering Toolkit<\/a><\/h2>\n\t\t
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TRL 9<\/h2>\n\t\t
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Fully validated technology, with operational deployment in large telescopes such as ESO\u2019s VLT since 2016.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Number of Actuators<\/h2>\n\t\t
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From a few dozen up to 5,000 and more, depending on application.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Actuator pitch<\/h2>\n\t\t
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Typically between 25 and 40 mm, with proven developments down to 16 mm.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Stroke capability<\/h2>\n\t\t
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In excess of 100 \u00b5m, assuring field stabilization, compensation of quasi-static aberrations and adaptive optics correction on a single mirror<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Settling time<\/h2>\n\t\t
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Less than 1 ms for any controlled mode, enabling ultra-fast response.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Command bandwidth<\/h2>\n\t\t
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Larger than 1.5 kHz, guaranteeing rapid and accurate control.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Disturbance rejection bandwidth<\/h2>\n\t\t
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Larger than 400 Hz, providing immunity against external disturbances<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Thermal stability<\/h2>\n\t\t
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Better than 1 nm\/K without AO loop, ensuring reliable performance under varying conditions.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Absolute positioning accuracy<\/h2>\n\t\t
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Below 20 nm RMS, delivering nanometer-level precision.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Diagrams and insights <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Lorem ipsum<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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SCIENTIFIC PAPERS AND LINKS <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Scientific Papers<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t
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Links<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t
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ENGINEERING PROJECTS<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Explore Our Adaptive Optics Projects<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Explore the milestones that have defined Microgate's journey in Adaptive Optics. From pioneering adaptive secondary mirrors to the next generation of giant telescopes, each project represents a step forward in precision engineering, real-time control and optical innovation, developed alongside the world's leading observatories and research institutions.<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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