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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.

     EMAIL logo     , 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.

         and Peter C. Zimmer

    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.
Published/Copyright: September 27, 2013
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Advanced Optical Technologies
From the journal Advanced Optical Technologies Volume 2 Issue 5-6

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.

Keywords: extremely large telescopes; optical design; telescope; OCIS Classifications codes: 110.6770; 350.1260; 220.0220
Corresponding author: Mark R. Ackermann, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, 1919 Lomas NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA, e-mail:

About the authors

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.

Peter C. Zimmer

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.

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Received: 2013-7-16
Accepted: 2013-8-29
Published Online: 2013-09-27
Published in Print: 2013-12-01

©2013 by THOSS Media & De Gruyter Berlin Boston

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https://doi.org/10.1515/aot-2013-0043
Keywords for this article
extremely large telescopes; optical design; telescope; OCIS Classifications codes: 110.6770; 350.1260; 220.0220

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Masthead
  2. Masthead
  3. Views
  4. State of photonics-related industry in Japan: Digital economy is creating a deep integration in East Asia
  5. Transferring diffractive optics from research to commercial applications: Part I – progress in the patent landscape
  6. Community
  7. News from the European Optical Society
  8. Conference Notes
  9. Conference Calendar
  10. Topical Issue: Remote Sensing
  11. Editorial
  12. Remote sensing
  13. Tutorial
  14. Speckle effects in target-in-the-loop laser beam projection systems
  15. Review Articles
  16. Laser gated viewing at ISL for vision through smoke, active polarimetry, and 3D imaging in NIR and SWIR wavelength bands
  17. Infrared detectors for space applications
  18. Research Article
  19. Alternative design for extremely large telescopes and options to use the VATT for ELT design demonstration
  20. Letters
  21. Holographic wavefront sensor for fast defocus measurement
  22. Beam combining of quantum cascade lasers for remote sensing
  23. Review Article
  24. Design of freeform optics
  25. Research Article
  26. NIR cutoff filter for true color imaging sensors
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