Fundamental limitations on off-axis performance of phased telescope arrays

James E. Harvey; Christ Ftaclas

doi:10.1117/12.19211

1 July 1990 Fundamental limitations on off-axis performance of phased telescope arrays

James E. Harvey; Christ Ftaclas

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 1236, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes IV; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19211
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1990, Tucson, AZ, United States

Abstract

The sensitivity of image quality to various system and subsystem parameters has been studied in order to determine the utility of imaging phased telescope arrays to wide field of view (FOV) applications. An error budget tree is developed to include optical design errors, assembly and alignment errors, optical fabrication errors, and environmental errors. Trade studies, parametric analyses, and previous engineering experience permitted the derivation of design and engineering tolerances from error budget allocations based on known state-of-the-art performance characteristics. The FOV limitations of the residual optical design errors (off-axis aberrations) are investigated in detail. It is shown that the somewhat benign (for conventional optical systems) aberration of field curvature results in field-dependent relative phase (piston) and pointing (tilt) errors, which rapidly degrades the image quality of phased telescope arrays as the FOV is increased. Thus extremely light tolerances on residual field curvature are needed for telescope diameters larger than one meter.

Citation Download Citation

James E. Harvey, Christ Ftaclas, "Fundamental limitations on off-axis performance of phased telescope arrays", Proc. SPIE 1236, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes IV, (1 July 1990); doi: 10.1117/12.19211; https://doi.org/10.1117/12.19211

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

PERSONAL SIGN IN
Full access may be available with your subscription

Email or Username Forgot your username?

Password Forgot your password?

Show

Remember Email/Username on this computer

Remember Password

No SPIE account? Create an account
or Institutional Sign In via Shibboleth

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

Members: $14.40

Non-members: $18.00 ADD TO CART

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years