High precision automated alignment procedure for two-mirror telescopes

Journal article

A significant challenge in the production of Earth observation satellites is the precise alignment of the telescope optical components. We have developed a strategy to perform automated alignment of two-mirror telescopes for use in a realistic factory-based setting. A Ritchey–Chrétien telescope was used as an example. The secondary mirror was mounted on a high precision hexapod and its misalignment inferred from the Zernike coefficients for tilt, defocus, and coma, as measured by a phase-shifting interferometer. The required corrections to the position of the secondary mirror were implemented using an integral controller and alignment was achieved within minutes, compared to within days when using a manual alignment process. The Zernike coefficient for each aberration was reduced to within one standard deviation of the fluctuations due to residual instability (48 nm).

Authors: Hampson, K; Gooding, D; Cole, R; Booth, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Optical Society of America
• Journal: Applied Optics
• Volume: 58
• Issue: 27
• Pages: 7388-7391
• Publication date: 2019-09-12
• Acceptance date: 2019-07-25
• DOI: 10.1364/AO.58.007388
• EISSN: 2155-3165
• ISSN: 1559-128X
• Keywords: Journal Article