Misalignment Tolerances For An Imaging System With A Segmented Primary Mirror

Eric W. Young; Shelah M. Lawson

doi:10.1117/12.7977075

1 September 1989 Misalignment Tolerances For An Imaging System With A Segmented Primary Mirror

Eric W. Young, Shelah M. Lawson

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 28, Issue 9, 289990 (September 1989). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7977075

Abstract

A technique is presented for calculating the aberrations induced by misalignment of elements of an imaging system with a segmented primary mirror. The misalignment-induced aberration function, derived in terms of a set of five vectors representing small displacements from the aligned position of each element, represents changes in optical path along each ray for the displacement under consideration. This aberration function can be used to conduct parametric tolerance studies of such segmented systems. The behavior of the optical system can be analyzed for variable location of the image plane and at selected points within it. These studies are difficult to conduct with conventional ray trace programs since they involve extensive data processing and great attention to proper se-lection of coordinate systems and transformations. We present results to illustrate the precision levels that should be met in the alignment and metrology of imaging systems with segmented primary mirrors to be operated at visible wavelengths. These precision levels are challenging but achievable with state-of-the-art technology.

Citation Download Citation

Eric W. Young and Shelah M. Lawson "Misalignment Tolerances For An Imaging System With A Segmented Primary Mirror," Optical Engineering 28(9), 289990 (1 September 1989). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7977075

Published: 1 September 1989

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available