Optical alignment with a beamwalk system

D. P. Beach

doi:10.1117/12.2322201

1 September 1990 Optical alignment with a beamwalk system

D. P. Beach

Proceedings Volume 1304, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing IV; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2322201
Event: 1990 Technical Symposium on Optics, Electro-Optics, and Sensors, 1990, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Electro-optical systems which are physically distributed over significant space and mounted on separateOptical benches require an optical alignment mechanism. Beamwalk control provides optical alignment by actively compensating for physical translation and rotations between separate optical support structure. Beam steering mirrors, mounted on the separate benches, are used to maintain optical alignment. A set of special optical detectors is used to measure the relative translation of a reference beam and the net angular deflection of that beam. These signals are fed back to the steering mirrors so that the mirrors can re-align the optical path.

This paper describer the beamwalk system of the Starlab experiment. A functional description is followed by a brief description of the optical layout. The control system is covered in more detail. The Stralab beamwalk control system commands one mirror servo with feedback from the beamwalk translation sensor and commands the other mirror servo with feedback from the beamwalk angle sensor. Servo Compensation is applied to each loop to achieve the desired stability. The advantage and disadvantage of controlling both mirrors with combined angle and translation sensor signals is addressed.

Citation Download Citation

D. P. Beach "Optical alignment with a beamwalk system", Proc. SPIE 1304, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing IV, (1 September 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2322201

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