The active optics system for the Discovery Channel Telescope

Byron Smith; Tomas Chylek; Brian Cuerden; Bill DeGroff; Paul J. Lotz; Alexander Venetiou

doi:10.1117/12.858047

21 July 2010 The active optics system for the Discovery Channel Telescope

Byron Smith, Tomas Chylek, Brian Cuerden, Bill DeGroff, Paul J. Lotz, Alexander Venetiou

Proceedings Volume 7739, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation; 77391T (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858047
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) is a 4.3-meter telescope designed for dual optical configurations, featuring an f/6.1 Ritchey-Chretien prescription with a 0.5° field-of-view, and a corrected f/2.3 prime focus with a 2° field-of-view. The DCT Active Optics System (AOS) maintains collimation and mirror figure to provide seeing limited images across the focal planes and rapid settling times to minimize observing overhead, using a combination of feed-forward and lowbandwidth feedback control via wavefront sensing. Collimation is maintained by tip-tilt-piston control of the M2 assembly and articulating M1 within its cell, taking advantage of the 120 degree-of-freedom support used for figure control. We present an overview of the AOS design and principles of operation, and a summary of progress and results to date.

Citation Download Citation

Byron Smith, Tomas Chylek, Brian Cuerden, Bill DeGroff, Paul J. Lotz, and Alexander Venetiou "The active optics system for the Discovery Channel Telescope", Proc. SPIE 7739, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation, 77391T (21 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858047

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