The design, construction and testing of the optics for a 147-cm-aperture telescope

Geodetic optics research for the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL) is described. The work consisted mainly of the fabrication of the optical components for a telescope with a 152-cm-diam (60-in.) primary mirror masked down to 147-cm-diam for use by the AFCRL for a lunar ranging experiment. Among the achievements of this contract were the following: completion of the primary and secondary mirrors for a high-quality 147-cm-diam telescope system in eight months from the start of edging the primary; manufacture and testing of a unique center mount for the primary according to an AFCRL design that allowed for a thin-edged and therefore less-massive mirror; and development of a quantitative analysis of the wire test for calculating the departure of the mirror figure from the design figure quickly and accurately after each polishing step. This analysis method in conjunction with a knowledge of polishing rates for given weights and diameters of tools, mirror, and polishing materials should considerably reduce the polishing time required for future large mirrors

A 1:1 apochromat transfer lens system

A prototype system for remote control was constructed for the University of Arizona 90-inch telescope on Kitt Peak. The system uses image dissector tubes, a conventional photocell, and photographic plates as detectors for images formed at the Cassegrain focus of the 90-inch telescope. It was decided to use an image relay system to transfer selected portions of the image plane to image dissectors and the photographic plate. The design of a 1:1 relay system is described. Design considerations are discussed and alternate designs are outlined

Design considerations of the AO module for the Gemini South multiconjugate adaptive optics system

The adaptive optics system for the Gemini South telescope, currently in the design phase, consists of several major subsystem. The largest subsystem, called the AO module, contains most of the optics and electronics and is mounted on one of the Cassegrain instrument ports. The initial system will be a conventional laser guide star AO system, but the plan is to eventually expand it to a multi-conjugate system. The system is being designed to readily add the components necessary to upgrade to a multi-conjugate system. This paper describes the design challenges encountered and solutions that were derived for the AO module design. The complexity of the multi-conjugate version is illustrated, including optical, mechanical, electronic and controls issues

Design considerations of the AO module for the Gemini South multiconjugate adaptive optics system

The adaptive optics system for the Gemini South telescope, currently in the design phase, consists of several major subsystem. The largest subsystem, called the AO module, contains most of the optics and electronics and is mounted on one of the Cassegrain instrument ports. The initial system will be a conventional laser guide star AO system, but the plan is to eventually expand it to a multi-conjugate system. The system is being designed to readily add the components necessary to upgrade to a multi-conjugate system. This paper describes the design challenges encountered and solutions that were derived for the AO module design. The complexity of the multi-conjugate version is illustrated, including optical, mechanical, electronic and controls issues

The Design, Construction, and Testing of the Optics for a 147-cm-Aperture Telescope

QC 351 A7 no. 79In this report we describe the work carried out under contract F19628-72-C-0047 entitled "Geodetic Optics Research" for the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL). The work consisted mainly of the fabrication of the optical components for a telescope with a 152 cm-diam (60-in.) primary mirror masked down to 147-cm diam for use by the AFCRL for a lunar ranging experiment. Among the noteworthy achievements of this contract were the following: (a) Completion of the primary and secondary mirrors for a high -quality 147 -cm- diam telescope system in eight months from the start of edging the primary. (b) Manufacture and testing of a unique center mount for the primary according to an AFCRL design that allowed for a thin-edged and therefore less-massive mirror. (c) Development of a quantitative analysis of the wire test for calculating the departure of the mirror figure from the design figure quickly and accurately after each polishing step. This analysis method in conjunction with a knowledge of polishing rates for given weights and diameters of tools, mirror, and polishing materials should considerably reduce the polishing time required for future large mirrors. The emphasis in this report is on these three items; however, considerable work was also undertaken in telescope design; null lens design and mounting; tracking optics design, fabrication, and mounting; and special thin -film coatings for the laser send and receive optics.This title from the Optical Sciences Technical Reports collection is made available by the College of Optical Sciences and the University Libraries, The University of Arizona. If you have questions about titles in this collection, please contact [email protected]

Multiconjugate adaptive optics for Gemini-South

NRC publication: Ye