Demonstration Of An Optically Phased Telescope Array

Janet S. Fender; Richard A. Carreras

doi:10.1117/12.7976748

1 September 1988 Demonstration Of An Optically Phased Telescope Array

Janet S. Fender, Richard A. Carreras

Author Affiliations +

Optical Engineering, Vol. 27, Issue 9, 279706 (September 1988). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7976748

Abstract

The first successful demonstration of actively phase matching, coaligning, and agilely steering a number of mutually coherent optical wavefronts through an array of transmitting telescopes has been performed on the Phasar experiment at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory. In the Phasar experiment, modern wavefront sensing and feedback techniques are used to control wavefronts transmitted through an assembly of three independent optical telescopes. Mutually coherent wavefronts transmitted through the telescope array are controlled to produce an effective single aperture wavefront. The multiple phased wavefronts produce a far-field energy distribution equivalent to the diffraction pattern of a single aperture whose diameter and obscurations match the geometry of the transmitting array. The Phasar experiment demonstrates absolute phasing of a broadband source in the presence of dynamic disturbances. The technologies developed facilitate the construction of large aperture, high quality optical systems by the modular combination of relatively small, inexpensive telescopes.

Citation Download Citation

Janet S. Fender and Richard A. Carreras "Demonstration Of An Optically Phased Telescope Array," Optical Engineering 27(9), 279706 (1 September 1988). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.7976748

Published: 1 September 1988

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

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