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Stellar Interferometer for Figure Sensing of Orbiting Astronomical Telescopes

1974; Optica Publishing Group; Volume: 13; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1364/ao.13.001785

0003-6935

W. N. Peters, Robert Arnold, S. Gowrinathan,

Astronomy and Astrophysical Research

An interferometric device designed to be located in the focal plane of a large astronomical telescope is presented. The prime application is for the forthcoming large space telescope. The device is to perform interferometry on the optical wavefront arising from a single star after it has propagated through the telescope. The concept of a focal plane figure sensor has been experimentally verified by fabricating and testing an operating laboratory breadboard figure sensor. A set of linear independent control equations are derived that define the operations for utilizing a focal plane figure sensor in the control loops for the positioning of the secondary mirror and for the active control of the primary mirror optical figure. A number of scientific experiments that could be preformed with the interferometer are also briefly discussed.