Active Optical Correctors for Large Inflatable Telescopes

David Henry Lesser; Logan Graves; Christopher Kidd Walker

doi:10.1109/TTHZ.2019.2918553

Active Optical Correctors for Large Inflatable Telescopes

David Henry Lesser, Logan Graves, Christopher Kidd Walker

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Large spherical balloons are a promising new option for deploying extremely large, yet light-weight mirrors for stratospheric and space-based applications. However, their lack of a rigid, precise structure presents a unique challenge for optically correcting nonspherical distortions, particularly at shorter wavelengths. In this paper, we present the design and characterization of a lab prototype for a 10-m aperture telescope for observing the water vapor emission line at 538 mum (557 GHz), as well as considerations for future flight-worthy versions.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	8721068
Pages (from-to)	409-416
Number of pages	8
Journal	IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology
Volume	9
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/TTHZ.2019.2918553
State	Published - Jul 2019

Keywords

Antennas and propagation
control systems
optical control
radio astronomy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Radiation
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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10.1109/TTHZ.2019.2918553

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title = "Active Optical Correctors for Large Inflatable Telescopes",

abstract = "Large spherical balloons are a promising new option for deploying extremely large, yet light-weight mirrors for stratospheric and space-based applications. However, their lack of a rigid, precise structure presents a unique challenge for optically correcting nonspherical distortions, particularly at shorter wavelengths. In this paper, we present the design and characterization of a lab prototype for a 10-m aperture telescope for observing the water vapor emission line at 538 mum (557 GHz), as well as considerations for future flight-worthy versions.",

keywords = "Antennas and propagation, control systems, optical control, radio astronomy",

author = "Lesser, {David Henry} and Logan Graves and Walker, {Christopher Kidd}",

note = "Funding Information: Manuscript received February 18, 2019; revised April 22, 2019; accepted May 8, 2019. Date of publication May 23, 2019; date of current version July 1, 2019. This work was supported in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Grant NNX14AT46G and Grant NNX13AP75G. (Corresponding author: David Henry Lesser.) D. H. Lesser and C. K. Walker are with Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA (e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2011-2012 IEEE.",

year = "2019",

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doi = "10.1109/TTHZ.2019.2918553",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "9",

pages = "409--416",

journal = "IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology",

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AU - Graves, Logan

AU - Walker, Christopher Kidd

N1 - Funding Information: Manuscript received February 18, 2019; revised April 22, 2019; accepted May 8, 2019. Date of publication May 23, 2019; date of current version July 1, 2019. This work was supported in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Grant NNX14AT46G and Grant NNX13AP75G. (Corresponding author: David Henry Lesser.) D. H. Lesser and C. K. Walker are with Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA (e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]). Publisher Copyright: © 2011-2012 IEEE.

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AB - Large spherical balloons are a promising new option for deploying extremely large, yet light-weight mirrors for stratospheric and space-based applications. However, their lack of a rigid, precise structure presents a unique challenge for optically correcting nonspherical distortions, particularly at shorter wavelengths. In this paper, we present the design and characterization of a lab prototype for a 10-m aperture telescope for observing the water vapor emission line at 538 mum (557 GHz), as well as considerations for future flight-worthy versions.

KW - Antennas and propagation

KW - control systems

KW - optical control

KW - radio astronomy

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Active Optical Correctors for Large Inflatable Telescopes

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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