Thermal expansion uniformity of materials for large telescope mirrors

Abstract

Uniformity of thermal expansion has been measured for fused quartz (Heraeus-Amersil TO8E) and borosilicate glass (Schott Duran and Ohara E6). The variation of expansion coefficient for three melts of TO8E was 5 x 10(-9)/K over a temperature range of 300 to 100 K and was found to vary linearly with position in the melt. This spatial gradient averaged 3.5 x 10(-11)/K cm. The room-temperature thermal expansivity variation of Duran (Tempax) glass was approximately 27 x 10(-9)/K, while that of E6 glass was approximately 52 x 10(-9)/K.