Electroactive polymer actuators for active optical components

Abstract

Adaptive optical systems incorporate active components that compensate for wavefront aberrations introduced by optical defects. The quality of optical compensation is largely determined by the stroke of the adaptive component’s underlying actuating mechanism. Development of compact polypyrrole trilayer actuator arrays may deliver superior performance over conventional active technologies such as electrostatic electrodes or piezoelectric actuators. This study introduces a novel piston–tilt mirror apparatus that utilizes low-voltage electroactive polymer actuators to reorient a plane mirror. The design of the mirror and its ancillary systems are first reported, followed by the polymer synthesis procedure and actuator fabrication method. Finally, laser beam steering results are provided in the context of an experimental retinal imaging system. The outcomes indicate a promising future for electroactive polymer-enabled devices in adaptive optical systems with technological implications ranging from more powerful astronomical telescopes to improved retinal tissue diagnosis.