The International Liquid Mirror Telescope : first mercury test report

Abstract

audience: researcher, popularizationThe ILMT is a four meter diameter liquid mirror telescope built in Liège by a collaboration of astronomers from Canada, India, ROB and ULg. In January 2011, for the first time, the mirror was tested with liquid Mercury. After reminding liquid mirror basics, we present the different phenomenons that may affect the mirror surface quality. We then present a method created to test the ILMT surface quality and we summarize the course of the recent mercury tests.ARC - Actions de recherche concertées; The International Liquid Mirror Telescop