Alternative design for extremely large telescopes and options to use the VATT for ELT design demonstration
-
Mark R. Ackermann
Mark Ackermann is an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico, specializing in assisting graduate students and research groups with optical design problems. He earned a BS in Physics and Mathematics from the USAF Academy in 1981, an MS in Physics in 1983, and a PhD in Optics in 2002 from the University of New Mexico.
,
John T. McGraw
John McGraw is a professor at the University of New Mexico, Physics and Astronomy Department. He is a professional astronomer by training and currently leads the Measurement Astrophysics Research Group specializing in characterizing the atmosphere to enable better use of ground-based optical telescopes. John earned a BA in Physics from St. Olaf College in 1968, an MA in Astronomy from the University of Texas in 1973, and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Texas in 1977.
Pete Zimmer is a research professor at the University of New Mexico, Physics and Astronomy Department. His primary duties are leading the day-to-day research activities of undergraduate and graduate students supporting the Measurement Astrophysics Research Group. Pete earned a BS in Physics and Mathematics from St. Olaf College in 1995, an MS in Physics from the University of New Mexico in 1998, and a PhD in Physics from the University of New Mexico in 2004.
Abstract
A variety of optical designs for extremely large telescopes (ELTs) can be found throughout the technical literature. Most feature very fast primary mirrors of either conic or spherical figure. For those designs with conic primary mirrors, many of the optical approaches tend to be derivatives of either the aplanatic Cassegrain or Gregorian systems. The Cassegrain approach is more common as it results in a shorter optical system, but it requires a large convex aspheric secondary mirror, which is extremely difficult and expensive to test. The Gregorian approach is physically longer and suffers from greater field curvature. In some design variations, additional mirrors are added to reimage and possibly flatten a Cassegrain focus. An interesting alternative ELT design uses a small Cassegrain system to image the collimated output of a Gregorian-Mersenne concentrator. Another alternative approach, currently in favor for use on the European ELT, uses three powered mirrors and two flat mirrors to reimage a Cassegrain focus out the side similar to a Nasmyth system. A preliminary examination suggests that a small, fast primary mirror, such as that used on the VATT, might be used for a subscale prototype of current ELT optical design options.
About the authors
Mark Ackermann is an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico, specializing in assisting graduate students and research groups with optical design problems. He earned a BS in Physics and Mathematics from the USAF Academy in 1981, an MS in Physics in 1983, and a PhD in Optics in 2002 from the University of New Mexico.
John McGraw is a professor at the University of New Mexico, Physics and Astronomy Department. He is a professional astronomer by training and currently leads the Measurement Astrophysics Research Group specializing in characterizing the atmosphere to enable better use of ground-based optical telescopes. John earned a BA in Physics from St. Olaf College in 1968, an MA in Astronomy from the University of Texas in 1973, and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Texas in 1977.
Pete Zimmer is a research professor at the University of New Mexico, Physics and Astronomy Department. His primary duties are leading the day-to-day research activities of undergraduate and graduate students supporting the Measurement Astrophysics Research Group. Pete earned a BS in Physics and Mathematics from St. Olaf College in 1995, an MS in Physics from the University of New Mexico in 1998, and a PhD in Physics from the University of New Mexico in 2004.
References
[1] J. E. Oberg, Uncovering Soviet Disasters: Exploring the Limits of Glasnost, Hale, 1989 (ISBN 0709037252).Suche in Google Scholar
[2] G. Burbidge, A. Hewitt, editors, Telescopes for the 1980s, Annual Reviews Monograph, (Annual Reviews Inc., Palo Alto CA, USA, 1981) pp. 63–128.Suche in Google Scholar
[3] N. J. Woolf, J.R.P. Angel, J. Antebi, N. Carleton, L. Barr, SPIE 332, 79–88 (1982).Suche in Google Scholar
[4] D. Fabricant, B. Mcleod and S. West, Optical Specifications for the MMT Conversion, Version 7, October 26, 1999.Suche in Google Scholar
[5] http://mirrorlab.as.arizona.edu, Also see Sky and Telescope, V. 83, No. 5, May, p.491, 1992.Suche in Google Scholar
[6] J. M. Hill, P. Salinari, SPIE 4837, 140–153 (2003).Suche in Google Scholar
[7] M. Johns, SPIE 6986 (2008).Suche in Google Scholar
[8] A. J. Tyson, SPIE 4836, 10–20 (2003).Suche in Google Scholar
[9] S. A. Shectman, SPIE 2199, 558–564 (1994).Suche in Google Scholar
[10] C. M. Moutain, F. C. Gillett and R. Kurz, SPIE 2871, 1997.Suche in Google Scholar
[11] VLT Whitebook, Chapter 3, ESO VLT Web Site.Suche in Google Scholar
[12] H. Ando, SPIE 4837, 821–830 (2003).Suche in Google Scholar
[13] Keck Observatory Technical Note 163, Revision 3.Suche in Google Scholar
[14] R. K. Jungquist, SPIE 3779, 2–16 (1999).Suche in Google Scholar
[15] D. O’Donoghue, A. Swat, SPIE 4411, 72–78 (2002).Suche in Google Scholar
[16] P. Alvarez, J. M. Rodriguez-Espinosa, SPIE 3352, 70–75 (1998).Suche in Google Scholar
[17] B. Delabre, Astron. Astrophys. 487, 389–397 (2008).Suche in Google Scholar
[18] J. Nelson, G. H. Sanders, SPIE 7012, (2008).Suche in Google Scholar
[19] http://www.eso.org/sci/facilities/eelt/telescope/design/, accessed August 2013.Suche in Google Scholar
[20] R. N. Wilson, Reflecting Telescope Optics 1, Astronomy and Astrophysics Library, (Springer, Heidelberg, Berlin, 2007).Suche in Google Scholar
[21] D. Korsch, Reflective Optics (Academic Press, San Diego, 1991).Suche in Google Scholar
[22] D. Korsch, SPIE 571, 158–163 (1985).10.3817/0985065158Suche in Google Scholar
[23] D. Korsch, Opt. Eng. 25(9), 1034–1038 (1986)10.1117/12.7973950Suche in Google Scholar
[24] J. Sasian, Opt. Eng. 26(1), 1197–1199 (1987).10.1117/12.7977155Suche in Google Scholar
[25] A. Rakich, SPIE 5524, 101–114 (2004).Suche in Google Scholar
[26] A. Rakich, Opt. Eng. 47(3), (2008).10.1117/1.2896596Suche in Google Scholar
[27] S. C. West, SPIE 2871, 74–85, 1997.10.1525/9780520311824-008Suche in Google Scholar
©2013 by THOSS Media & De Gruyter Berlin Boston
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Masthead
- Masthead
- Views
- State of photonics-related industry in Japan: Digital economy is creating a deep integration in East Asia
- Transferring diffractive optics from research to commercial applications: Part I – progress in the patent landscape
- Community
- News from the European Optical Society
- Conference Notes
- Conference Calendar
- Topical Issue: Remote Sensing
- Editorial
- Remote sensing
- Tutorial
- Speckle effects in target-in-the-loop laser beam projection systems
- Review Articles
- Laser gated viewing at ISL for vision through smoke, active polarimetry, and 3D imaging in NIR and SWIR wavelength bands
- Infrared detectors for space applications
- Research Article
- Alternative design for extremely large telescopes and options to use the VATT for ELT design demonstration
- Letters
- Holographic wavefront sensor for fast defocus measurement
- Beam combining of quantum cascade lasers for remote sensing
- Review Article
- Design of freeform optics
- Research Article
- NIR cutoff filter for true color imaging sensors
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Masthead
- Masthead
- Views
- State of photonics-related industry in Japan: Digital economy is creating a deep integration in East Asia
- Transferring diffractive optics from research to commercial applications: Part I – progress in the patent landscape
- Community
- News from the European Optical Society
- Conference Notes
- Conference Calendar
- Topical Issue: Remote Sensing
- Editorial
- Remote sensing
- Tutorial
- Speckle effects in target-in-the-loop laser beam projection systems
- Review Articles
- Laser gated viewing at ISL for vision through smoke, active polarimetry, and 3D imaging in NIR and SWIR wavelength bands
- Infrared detectors for space applications
- Research Article
- Alternative design for extremely large telescopes and options to use the VATT for ELT design demonstration
- Letters
- Holographic wavefront sensor for fast defocus measurement
- Beam combining of quantum cascade lasers for remote sensing
- Review Article
- Design of freeform optics
- Research Article
- NIR cutoff filter for true color imaging sensors
