Fiber optic gyros as telescope attitude sensors

Ian G. van Breda; Brian Culshaw

doi:10.1117/12.19108

1 July 1990 Fiber optic gyros as telescope attitude sensors

Ian G. van Breda, Brian Culshaw

Proceedings Volume 1235, Instrumentation in Astronomy VII; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19108
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1990, Tucson, AZ, United States

Abstract

The current state of performance of fiber-optic gyroscopes is discussed in relation to the needs of optical telescopes for tracking and setting. The principles of operation of fiber-optic gyroscopes are outlined, as well as their parameters and practical problems associated with telescope applications, such as fringe-shift measurements. Photon shot noise at the output, drift rate, and scale-factor stability are examined. Telescope configurations for an equatorial and alt-azimuth cases are discussed, along with such astronomical applications as tracking, slewing, static telescope, and field rotation. It is concluded that further improvements the fiber-optic gyroscopes will make an encoder scheme based on these devices competitive with conventionally encoded optical telescopes.

Citation Download Citation

Ian G. van Breda and Brian Culshaw "Fiber optic gyros as telescope attitude sensors", Proc. SPIE 1235, Instrumentation in Astronomy VII, (1 July 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19108

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