The high-strength reaction-sintered silicon carbide (RS-SiC) developed and manufactured by Toshiba and NEC-Toshiba Space Systems, NT-SiC, is one of the most promising, excellent and feasible candidates for light-weighted large-diameter space-borne optics that are applied to geostationary earth observations and astronomical observations. Small NT-SiC sample mirrors were manufactured to study basic physical parameters and features, and optical performances of the material, such as the surface conditions of polished NT-SiC, the condition of inner crystal grains, the correlation between the surface roughness and polishing, scattering characteristics, absorbance of solar light and infrared emissivity, and adhesiveness of metal coating. The current state of the art of the development of the NT-SiC mirror and the feasibility of light-weighted large-diameter NT-SiC mirrors for space-borne optics are described. Although technical challenges to achieve the surface roughness that is applicable to ultraviolet mirrors still remain, the optical performance and the physical properties of the present NT-SiC show that it is one of the most excellent mirror material in optical-infrared wavelength region.
[1]
Mario G. Lattanzi,et al.
GAIA: origin and evolution of the Milky Way
,
2000,
Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.
[2]
A. Kohyama,et al.
Development of High Strength Reaction-Sintered Silicon Carbide
,
2001
.
[3]
Shoko Suyama,et al.
Evaluation of microstructure for SiC/SiC composites
,
2001
.
[4]
Shoko Suyama,et al.
Evaluation of Microstructure, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of SiC/SiC Composites
,
2001
.
[5]
Göran Pilbratt,et al.
Herschel Space Observatory mission overview
,
2003,
SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation.