The world's largest telescope made in Italy opens up new frontiers for scientific research

A giant 'eye' on the sky, which will provide scientists with an unprecedented observation capability and promises to revolutionise our understanding of the Universe. From the study of extremely distant and faint objects, such as the first galaxies formed in the Universe, to the search for Earth-like exoplanets, analysing their atmospheres for possible signs of life. This is the Extremely Large Telescope (Elt), the world's largest telescope currently under construction in the Atacama Desert, Chile, by the European Southern Observatory (Eso).

At the heart of this unprecedented project beats an Italian technological heart. In fact, Microgate, a leading company in the field of adaptive optics based in Bolzano, has played a crucial role in the creation of the Elt's M4 mirror, the fourth mirror (out of five in total) that light encounters at the entrance to the telescope. The M4 mirror, the key component of the Elt's adaptive optics system, represents one of the most ambitious technological challenges of the project and is the largest adaptive mirror ever built. Its most extraordinary feature is its ability to deform thousands of times per second to correct for distortions in astronomical images caused by the Earth's atmospheric turbulence and the vibrations of the telescope itself. This advanced technology is essential to ensure that the Elt can capture images of the universe with unprecedented resolution, opening up new frontiers in astronomical research.

"We are very proud to contribute to a project of such scope and innovation as the Elt," says Roberto Biasi, CTO and co-founder, together with his brother Vinicio, of Microgate. 'Our involvement in the development of the M4 mirror control system is the culmination of years of research and development in the field of adaptive optics. This proprietary technology, extremely reliable and proudly Italian, will help redefine our understanding of the Universe, opening new frontiers for scientific research and consolidating the role of Italian technological excellence in space exploration."

Microgate's technology is the result of 30 years of experience in developing systems for astronomy and space applications. The technology is now ready to be used for the new generation of maxi-telescopes with a primary mirror diameter of more than 25 m, including the Gmt (Giant Magellan Telescope), with its adaptive secondary mirror consisting of seven 1.06 m mirrors made using technology produced in South Tyrol.

At 2.5 metres in diameter and just 1.95 millimetres thick, ELT's M4 mirror consists of six petal-shaped segments. Microgate, in a consortium with ADS International in the AdOptica grouping, played a leading role from the initial design and development stages of the mirror. The South Tyrolean company is responsible for designing and building the complex electronic control system that manages the 5,352 contactless actuators, which allow the mirror surface to be modified in real time to compensate for atmospheric turbulence. This mirror 'levitates' thanks to an electromagnetic field generated by the actuators, avoiding any direct mechanical contact. The technology developed by Microgate makes it possible to adapt the shape of the mirror more than 1,000 times per second, with an accuracy of better than 10 millionths of a millimetre, thus ensuring immediate image correction.