The feasibility of large refracting telescopes for solar coronal research

Peter G. Nelson; Steven Tomczyk; David F. Elmore; Donald J. Kolinski

doi:10.1117/12.789494

10 July 2008 The feasibility of large refracting telescopes for solar coronal research

Peter G. Nelson, Steven Tomczyk, David F. Elmore, Donald J. Kolinski

Proceedings Volume 7012, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes II; 701231 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789494
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

Measuring magnetic fields in the solar corona requires a large aperture telescope with exceptionally low levels of scattered light. For internally-occulted coronagraphs the main source is scattering from dust or microroughness on the primary lens or mirror. We show refracting primaries offer significantly lower levels for both sources. To observe magnetic fields in the solar corona with scientifically interesting spatial and temporal resolutions, a 1 meter aperture or larger is required. For a long time such large-scale refractors have been deemed impractical or impossible to construct due to gravitational deformation of the lens. We present the results of finite-element and optical analyses of the gravitational deformation, stress-induced birefringence, and absorptive heating of a (see manuscript)1.5 meter f/5 fused silica lens. These studies demonstrate the traditional objections to large refractors are unfounded and large refracting primaries have unique capabilities.

Citation Download Citation

Peter G. Nelson, Steven Tomczyk, David F. Elmore, and Donald J. Kolinski "The feasibility of large refracting telescopes for solar coronal research", Proc. SPIE 7012, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes II, 701231 (10 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789494

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