Developement and Testing of Thin Film Shape Memory Effect Optical Membranes

The development of optical coatings utilising smart thin film shape memory alloys will be investigated using several techniques. The coatings will be placed on optical quality membranes. Processing conditions to ensure compatibility with the polyimidewill be investigated including the use of both sacrificial layers and conversion coatings to generate the desired heterostructures. In addition, optically smooth thin film Shape Memory Alloys will be attempted. In this study, Shape Change Technologies will be providing both deposition studies and optical characterization and control of the material. This will include both surface roughness measurements and single point actuation measurements on the material.UCLA will also generate thin film material and perform thermo-mechanical characterization of the thin films, including transformation temperature characterization, stiffness and dynamic loss measurements.These measurements will be integrated in an FEMmodel of the membrane Finally, we will generate using Labview, a simple control module to control a single point on the membrane. Samples will be delivered to the Sturctural Dynamics group at AFRL (Albuquerque) to generate detailed studies of the thin film behavior usinginterferometry. Thin film Shape Memory alloys as part of an adaptive optical systems will generate significant interest in the areas of biofluidic analysis. Optimized processing conditions of the thin films for reproducible control is required, and thisresearch allows this development and process refinement. Successful development of smart SME membranes in other areas will also benefit.