Dr. Peter C. Chen Profile

Dr. Peter C. Chen

Senior Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Ctr

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (36)

SPIE Journal Paper | 4 November 2014 Open Access

Carbon nanotube optical mirrors

Peter Chen, Douglas Rabin

JATIS, Vol. 1, Issue 01, 014005, (November 2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JATIS.1.1.014005

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Carbon nanotubes, Space telescopes, Active optics, Telescopes, Epoxies, Astronomical imaging, 3D printing, Glasses, Liquids

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Proceedings Article | 2 August 2014 Paper

Smart materials optical mirrors

Peter Chen, Douglas Rabin

Proceedings Volume 9143, 914350 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057035

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Space telescopes, Epoxies, Telescopes, Active optics, Carbon nanotubes, Smart materials, Liquids, Actuators, Composites

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Proceedings Article | 18 July 2014 Paper

Composite telescope technology

Peter Chen, Douglas Rabin

Proceedings Volume 9151, 915130 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057118

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Telescopes, Polymers, Metals, Active optics, Space telescopes, Glasses, Photovoltaics, Cryogenics

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Proceedings Article | 12 July 2008 Paper

Optical design and in situ fabrication of large telescopes on the Moon

P. Chen, R. Lyon, M. Van Steenberg

Proceedings Volume 7010, 70104D (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789945

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Space telescopes, Epoxies, Optical design, Large telescopes, Mirrors, James Webb Space Telescope, Interferometers, Imaging systems, Optical components

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Proceedings Article | 21 November 2007 Paper

Large aperture nanocomposite deformable mirror technology

Peter Chen, Richard Hale

Proceedings Volume 6721, 67210R (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.782951

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Actuators, Nanocomposites, Deformable mirrors, Carbon, Adaptive optics, Epoxies, Telescopes, Microscopes

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Proceedings Article | 12 October 2004 Paper

Development and testing of an actively controlled large-aperture Cassegrain Telescope for spacecraft deployment

Bradley Boone, Jonathan Bruzzi, Bernard Kluga, Eric Rogala, R. Hale, Peter Chen

Proceedings Volume 5487, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.552240

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Telescopes, Digital signal processing, Space telescopes, Space operations, Signal processing, Actuators, Control systems, Telescope design

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Proceedings Article | 7 July 2004 Paper

Development of lightweight mirror elements for the Euro50 mirrors

Harold Bennett, Robert Romeo, Joseph Shaffer, Peter Chen

Proceedings Volume 5382, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.566262

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Actuators, Composites, Zerodur, Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Light scattering, Space telescopes, Surface finishing, Solids

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New, very large telescopes with apertures of 30, 50, and 100 meters are being proposed by the astronomical community. Superpolished or ultrapolished mirrors with low scattered light levels and the use of adaptive optics for near-diffraction-limited performance would make such large telescopes a turning point in astronomy. The secondary mirror for the Euro50 will be a four meter adaptive optic made of a low expansion graphite-filled cyanate ester resin composite produced using a replica transfer technique. We have made three 1/3^rd meter diameter prototype composite adaptive optic mirrors of this cyanate ester composite material. Because of the embedded graphite fibers, the composite material has a measured expansion coefficient in the 10^-8 range, as has Zerodur or ULE glass. It is very much lighter, more rugged and more economical than Zerodur or ULE, and can be fabricated in weeks, not months. The Zerodur mandrels upon which these replica transfer mirrors are made are superpolished using centrifugal elutriation, so the replica surface has an rms roughness of 0.6 to 0.8 nm. It thus scatters about an order of magnitude less light than typical conventionally polished astronomical mirrors. In adaptive optic mirrors with sub-mm thick faceplates the number of plies used is insufficient to produce an isotropic surface. For mirrors 2 mm thick, with more plies, the surfaces are isotropic, and the slight astigmatism sometimes resulting from the mesh in the ply can be corrected by actuators to make them attractive mirrors. They must be supported to maintain a good optical figure over a meter diameter mirror. The support requirement may be met by using a new type of mechanical/piezoelectric actuator adjustable to a fraction of a wavelength. The mechanical actuators have a coarse adjust of over an mm and a fine adjust of less than a wavelength of light. They can be used in series with a novel type of piezoelectric actuator for final static adjustment. The low voltage, up to 2.5 kHz frequency piezoelectric actuators have a displacement of approximately one μm per volt, 82 times greater than conventional piezoelectric actuators, and a throw of ±30 μm or more. Compliant faceplates can be adaptive as well as active. Calculations indicate that for actuator spacings of about 4 cm the effective mirror stiffness equals that of a solid Zerodur mirror with a conventional 6:1 diameter to thickness ratio. The effect of gravitational sag for composite mirrors is calculated to be negligible. They are thus a good choice for the secondary mirror for the Euro50 as well as for the primary or secondary mirrors for other giant telescopes.

Proceedings Article | 7 July 2004 Paper

Advances in composite mirror and telescope technology

Peter Chen, Robert Romeo

Proceedings Volume 5382, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.566260

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Telescopes, Space telescopes, Optical fibers, Adaptive optics, Diffraction, Deformable mirrors, Holograms, Holography

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Proceedings Article | 3 March 2003 Paper

Novel approach to the fabrication of noncircular apodized aperture ultrasmooth mirrors for exo-planet detection

Peter Chen, Robert Romeo

Proceedings Volume 4860, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.457841

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Planets, Stars, Telescopes, Space telescopes, Aluminum, Polishing, Glasses, Diffraction

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Proceedings Article | 24 February 2003 Paper

A novel process to fabricate mirrors with a very long radius and ultra-smooth surfaces

Peter Chen, Kenneth Carpenter, Robert Romeo

Proceedings Volume 4854, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459949

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Space mirrors, Space operations, Interferometers, Monochromatic aberrations, Spherical lenses, Space telescopes, Optical fabrication, Control systems

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Proceedings Article | 30 January 2003 Paper

Ultra-lightweight 4-m segmented composite mirrors for extremely large telescopes

Robert Romeo, Peter Chen

Proceedings Volume 4840, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459865

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Large telescopes, Telescopes, Spherical lenses, Glasses, Optical fibers, Optics manufacturing, Control systems, Lightweight mirrors

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Proceedings Article | 30 January 2003 Paper

Development of lightweight mirror elements for a very large astronomical adaptive optic primary mirror

Harold Bennett, Joseph Shaffer, Robert Romeo, Peter Chen

Proceedings Volume 4840, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.459929

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Actuators, Adaptive optics, Composites, Glasses, Telescopes, Wavefronts, Prototyping, Space telescopes, Surface finishing

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New very large telescopes with apertures as large as 100 meters are being proposed. They will be made up of mirror segments only a meter or two in diameter and phased together. The diffraction-limited resolution of a mirror is directly proportional to its diameter, and the light-gathering-power is proportional to the square of the diameter. Near-diffraction-limited performance using adaptive optics would make such large mirrors very exciting. We have built two small prototype composite adaptive optic mirrors of graphite fiber impregnated cyanate ester resin driven by actuators spaced 4 cm apart and with a faceplate influence function of 5 cm. The second mirror assembly also makes possible a 2 cm actuator spacing. The overall figure is not yet as good as desired, but we believe that much of this problem can be corrected by mechanical adjustment of the actuator rest positions and use of low expansion mandrels. This mirror concept, when realized in primary mirror segments a meter or more in diameter, should make correction possible for atmospheric turbulence under almost any observatory seeing conditions. The composite optical faceplate in the most recent prototype had a roughness of 0.6 to 0.8 nm. Two centrifugal elutriation super-polishers, each over 1.2 meters in diameter, are in place to produce superpolished mandrels on which to form superpolished faceplates over a meter in diameter. Scattered light from such a mirror surface will be reduced by as much as a factor of ten, as compared to conventional fresh feed polishing. The name "transfer mirrors" rather than the widely recognized but poorer quality "replica mirrors" is given to such faceplates. They have an expansion coefficient comparable to ULE quartz or Zerodur, and are lightweight with 10-20, an aerial density of 17 kg/m² for the mirror with a 4 cm actuator spacing or 34 kg/m² for the mirror with 2 cm actuator spacing. In both cases the effect of gravitational sag is minimized. A 60 volt potential results in actuator displacement of 5 mm as measured inter

Proceedings Article | 18 December 2002 Paper

CFRP composite thin-shelled mirrors for future space telescopes

Robert Romeo, Peter Chen

Proceedings Volume 4849, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460550

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Carbon, Space mirrors, Space telescopes, Composites, Optics manufacturing, Telescopes, Manufacturing, Solar concentrators, Spherical lenses

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Proceedings Article | 18 December 2002 Paper

Fabrication and testing of ultra-lightweight Gossamer-class composite mirrors

Peter Chen, Ronald Oliversen, Robert Romeo

Proceedings Volume 4849, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460460

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Monochromatic aberrations, Curium, Global system for mobile communications, Space operations, Diffraction, Optical fabrication, Space telescopes, Space mirrors

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Proceedings Article | 14 August 2002 Paper

Low-cost inflatable lighter-than-air surveillance system for civilian applications

Jason Kiddy, Peter Chen, John Niemczuk

Proceedings Volume 4708, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.479322

KEYWORDS: Surveillance systems, Surveillance, Control systems, Helium, Telecommunications, Sensors, Packaging, Defense technologies, Power supplies, Analytical research

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Proceedings Article | 7 August 2002 Paper

Low-cost inflatable lighter-than-air remote surveillance system

Jason Kiddy, Peter Chen, John Niemczuk

Proceedings Volume 4743, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.447915

KEYWORDS: Surveillance systems, Helium, Surveillance, Packaging, Sensors, Unmanned aerial vehicles, Weapons, Navigation systems, Electronics, Manufacturing

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Proceedings Article | 9 July 2002 Paper

Structural load monitoring of the RV Triton using fiber optic sensors

Jason Kiddy, Christopher Baldwin, Toni Salter, Peter Chen

Proceedings Volume 4698, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.475092

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Fiber Bragg gratings, Fiber optics sensors, Fiber optics, Optical fibers, Data acquisition, Resistance, Temperature metrology, Spectroscopy, Image sensors

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Proceedings Article | 28 June 2002 Paper

Structural monitoring of composite marine piles using multiplexed fiber Bragg grating sensors: in-field applications

Christopher Baldwin, Toni Salter, John Niemczuk, Peter Chen, Jason Kiddy

Proceedings Volume 4696, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.472544

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Composites, Fiber Bragg gratings, Optical fibers, Fiber optics sensors, Bridges, Lead, Structural monitoring, Multiplexing, Structural health monitoring

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Proceedings Article | 27 September 2001 Paper

Low-cost inflatable lighter-than-air remote surveillance system

Jason Kiddy, Peter Chen, John Niemczuk

Proceedings Volume 4393, (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.441270

KEYWORDS: Surveillance systems, Helium, Surveillance, Control systems, Electronics, Sensors, Power supplies, Fourier transforms, Motion models, Manufacturing

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Proceedings Article | 16 August 2001 Paper

Temperature-compensated flat-pack fiber optic strain gage: design and fabrication

Jason Kiddy, Peter Chen, John Niemczuk

Proceedings Volume 4327, (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.436571

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Fiber Bragg gratings, Resistance, Fiber optics sensors, Temperature metrology, Fiber optics, Prototyping, Optical design, Optical fibers, Environmental sensing

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Proceedings Article | 6 August 2001 Paper

Digital spatial wavelength domain multiplexing (DSWDM) using a prism-grating-prism (PGP) and a CMOS imager: implementation and initial testing

Martin Christiansen, Steve Chen, Christopher Baldwin, John Niemczuk, Jason Kiddy, Peter Chen, Harri Kopola, Mauri Aikio, Pekka Suopajarvi, Steven Buckley

Proceedings Volume 4328, (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.435513

KEYWORDS: Fiber Bragg gratings, Imaging systems, Optical fibers, Sensors, Multiplexing, Spectroscopy, Signal processing, Fiber optics sensors, Data acquisition, Fiber optics tests

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Proceedings Article | 30 July 2001 Paper

Structural monitoring of composite marine piles using fiber optic sensors

Christopher Baldwin, Toni Poloso, Peter Chen, John Niemczuk, Jason Kiddy, Carl Ealy

Proceedings Volume 4330, (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.434149

KEYWORDS: Fiber Bragg gratings, Sensors, Composites, Fiber optics sensors, Ocean optics, Bridges, Lead, Fourier transforms, Structural health monitoring, Optical fibers

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Proceedings Article | 14 June 2001 Paper

Structural testing of a Navy LPD-17 propulsion propeller using Bragg grating sensors and digital spatial wavelength domain multiplexing (DSWDM)

Christopher Baldwin, Peter Chen, Jason Kiddy, John Niemczuk, Martin Christiansen, Kartik Vaithyanathan, Shiping Chen

Proceedings Volume 4332, (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.429649

KEYWORDS: Fiber Bragg gratings, Sensors, Imaging systems, Resistance, Data acquisition, Multiplexing, Optical fibers, Fiber optics sensors, CMOS sensors, Signal detection

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Proceedings Article | 21 February 2001 Paper

Low-cost inflatable lighter-than-air remote surveillance system

Jason Kiddy, John Niemczuk, Peter Chen

Proceedings Volume 4232, (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.417538

KEYWORDS: Surveillance, Sensors, Surveillance systems, Helium, Control systems, Electronics, Rockets, Solar energy, Reconnaissance, Packaging

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SPIE Journal Paper | 1 September 2000

Advances in very lightweight composite mirror technology

Peter Chen, Charles Bowers, David Content, Joseph Marzouk, Robert Romeo

OE, Vol. 39, Issue 09, (September 2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.1288125

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Monochromatic aberrations, Lightweight mirrors, Active optics, Optical engineering, Space mirrors, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Glasses

Proceedings Article | 28 July 2000 Paper

Ultralightweight and hyperthin rollable primary mirror for space telescopes

Robert Romeo, Aden Meinel, Marjorie Meinel, Peter Chen

Proceedings Volume 4013, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.393998

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Space telescopes, Composites, Optical spheres, Space mirrors, Telescopes, Spherical lenses, Optics manufacturing, Optical testing, Reflectors

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Proceedings Article | 20 July 2000 Paper

Ultralightweight precision optics technology

Peter Chen, Robert Romeo

Proceedings Volume 4003, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.391530

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Temperature metrology, Spherical lenses, Space mirrors, Precision optics, Absorption, Thermography

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Proceedings Article | 9 June 1999 Paper

Active twist smart rotor technology for blade-vortex interaction noise reduction

Peter Chen, James Baeder, Robert Evans, John Niemczuk, Paul Ross

Proceedings Volume 3668, (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.350730

KEYWORDS: Denoising, Aerodynamics, Acoustics, Actuators, Control systems, Fluid dynamics, Composites, 3D modeling, Solids, Ear

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Proceedings Article | 28 August 1998 Paper

Fabrication and testing of very lightweight composite mirrors

Peter Chen, Robert Romeo

Proceedings Volume 3356, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.324451

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Space telescopes, Actuators, Lightweight mirrors, Telescopes, Monochromatic aberrations, Optical fabrication, Space mirrors, Active optics

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Proceedings Article | 27 July 1998 Paper

Integrated design of smart rotor and robust control system

Vineet Sahasrabudhe, Peter Chen, Peter Thompson, Bimal Aponso

Proceedings Volume 3329, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.316905

KEYWORDS: Control systems design, Actuators, Data modeling, Control systems, Aerodynamics, Motion models, Optimization (mathematics), Failure analysis, Vibration control, Denoising

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SPIE Journal Paper | 1 February 1998

Progress in very lightweight optics using graphite fiber composite materials

Peter Chen, Timo Saha, Andrew Smith, Robert Romeo

OE, Vol. 37, Issue 02, (February 1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.601866

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Composites, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Glasses, Epoxies, Ions, X-ray optics, Space mirrors, Astronomical imaging

Proceedings Article | 6 June 1997 Paper

Wind tunnel test of a smart rotor with individual blade twist control

Peter Chen, Inderjit Chopra

Proceedings Volume 3041, (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.275648

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Phase shifts, Wind measurement, Phase measurement, Aerodynamics, Vibration control, Computing systems, Bridges, Amplifiers, Sensors

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Proceedings Article | 1 September 1995 Paper

Progress toward a photon-counting intensified CID detector

Randy Kimble, Peter Chen, J. Patrick Haas, Timothy Norton, Leslie Payne, Joseph Carbone, Massimiliano Corba

Proceedings Volume 2518, (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.218392

KEYWORDS: Microchannel plates, Sensors, Charge-coupled devices, Photon counting, Spatial resolution, Electronics, Cameras, Imaging systems, Astronomy, Ultraviolet radiation

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Proceedings Article | 6 May 1994 Paper

Induced strain actuation of composite beams and rotor blades with embedded piezoceramic elements

Peter Chen, Inderjit Chopra

Proceedings Volume 2190, (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.175176

KEYWORDS: Actuators, Skin, Aluminum, Foam, Composites, Ferroelectric materials, Bismuth, Manufacturing, Vibration control, Sensors

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Proceedings Article | 8 September 1993 Paper

Feasibility study to build a smart rotor: induced-strain actuation of airfoil twisting using piezoceramic crystals

Peter Chen, Inderjit Chopra

Proceedings Volume 1917, (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.152763

KEYWORDS: Crystals, Intelligence systems, Laser crystals, Smart structures, Actuators, Crystallography, Skin, Sensors, Control systems, Ferroelectric materials

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Proceedings Article | 1 September 1991 Paper

New way of making a lunar telescope

Peter Chen

Proceedings Volume 1494, (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.46751

KEYWORDS: Space telescopes, Mirrors, Telescopes, Superconductors, Optical arrays, Astronomical telescopes, Glasses, Metals, Mirror pointing, Magnetism

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Showing 5 of 36 publications

Conference Committee Involvement (22)

Smart Structures and NDE for Industry 4.0, Smart Cities, and Energy Systems

27 April 2020 | Online Only, California, United States

Smart Structures and NDE for Energy Systems and Industry 4.0

4 March 2019 | Denver, Colorado, United States

Smart Structures and NDE for Industry 4.0

5 March 2018 | Denver, Colorado, United States

Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies XI

26 March 2017 | Portland, Oregon, United States

Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies X

21 March 2016 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies IX

9 March 2015 | San Diego, California, United States

Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies VIII

11 March 2014 | San Diego, California, United States

Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies VII

10 March 2013 | San Diego, California, United States

Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies VI

12 March 2012 | San Diego, California, United States

Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies V

7 March 2011 | San Diego, California, United States

Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies IV

8 March 2010 | San Diego, California, United States

Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies III

9 March 2009 | San Diego, California, United States

Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies II

10 March 2008 | San Diego, California, United States