Progress in development of a multiple-order diffractive engineered (MODE) lens as applied to space telescopes, where an ultralightweight primary lens is used instead of a mirror, is presented. Precision glass molding is used to fabricate a prototype 0.24 m diameter primary lens, and advanced alignment technology is used to bond lens segments into a ridged, monolithic structure. The primary lens is used in an f/4.17 telescope with a color corrector that provides diffraction-limited imaging over the astronomical R-band of wavelengths (589 nm to 727 nm) and +/- 0.125° field of view. Fabrication data, alignment results, and imaging experiments are presented.
The initial testing of prototype multiple-order-diffraction engineered (MODE) lens telescope is essential process before the sky test to evaluate the optical imaging performance of a space object. Prototype MODE lens telescope consists of MODE primary lens which is a core component to correct secondary spectrum, a field lens and a double Gauss type color corrector and achieves a diffraction limited performance. The performance is tested on the diffraction efficiency with respect to supercontinuum laser wavelength on an optical testbed and evaluated on the polychromatic performance for prototype molded ring segment.
KEYWORDS: Diffractive optical elements, Astrobiology, Telescopes, Space observatories, Planets, Space telescopes, James Webb Space Telescope, Space operations, Stars, Satellites, Optical fabrication
We describe progress on the Nautilus Space Observatory concept that is enabled by novel, very large (8.5mdiameter), ultralight-weight, multi-order diffractive lenses that can be cost-effectively replicated. The scientific goal of Nautilus is the rigorous statistical exploration of one thousand potentially life-bearing planets and the assessment of the diversity of exo-earths. Here we review the science requirements and key design features of Nautilus. The new optical technology (MODE lenses) at the heart of the Nautilus telescopes also poses exciting new optical fabrication and metrology challenges. We will summarize these challenges and provide an overview of emerging solutions.
The primary lens of our multi-order diffractive engineered (MODE) lens telescope combines traditional lens design and a diffractive element to mitigate longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA). This design uses a 24 cm diameter aperture. In order to make the primary in molded glass, the lens is constructed in 9 segments, 1 radially symmetric center segment, and 8 identical ring segments. A monolithic 24cm aperture MODE lens is not possible at this time, due to limitations of our 14 cm diameter molding cavity. The ring segments each subtend a 45° angular subtense of the ring around the center segment, combining to form a 360° ring around the center segment. Due to the irregular shape of the ring segments and the high precision diffractive surfaces within the design, the lenses are fabricated using precision glass molding (PGM). This presentation considers mold insert design, preform selection, and molding process development. Beyond the overall structure of the molds, the design of the mold insert requires considerations for thermal expansion of the mold and mitigation of adhesion between the mold and the lens using an antiadhesion coating. The preform selection considers both the thermal and optical properties of the glass to be molded and the proper shape of the preform for the easiest material flow during the mold cycle. The general molding process is summarized as heating the preform above the glass transition temperature, applying a force to the mold inserts, and cooling the mold assembly before release.
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