A Fast Steering Mirror (FSM) is designed to quickly and precisely adjust the angle of a reflective surface to manipulate light beams.
Based on the provided reference, a Fast Steering Mirror (FSM) is a system made up of several key components:
- A reflective mirror: This is the surface that bounces the light beam.
- A pair of motion-tracking sensors: These detect the current position and angle of the mirror.
- A displacement actuator: This component is responsible for physically moving or tilting the mirror.
- A processing unit: This unit receives information from the sensors and sends commands to the actuator to control the mirror's movement.
These components work together to aid in receiving an incoming signal beam at the correct angle or redirecting it in a specific direction. The sensors monitor the mirror's position, the processing unit calculates any necessary adjustments based on the desired beam path, and the actuator then quickly moves the mirror to the precise angle required. This allows the system to maintain a stable beam path or rapidly change the direction of a light beam.
For instance, in applications like satellite communication or laser tracking, an FSM can rapidly adjust the mirror's angle to compensate for vibrations or movement, ensuring the laser beam stays locked onto its target. The speed and precision of the actuator, combined with the feedback from the sensors, allow FSMs to perform these tasks very quickly, hence the name "Fast" Steering Mirror.
