Adaptive Optics, LLLFT Interferometry, Astronomy
Abstract
We propose to build a three telescope Michelson optical interferometer equipped with wavefront compensation technology as a demonstration and test bed for high resolution Deep Space Surveillance (DSS) and Astronomy. Each telescope will have a liquid crystal (LC) Adaptive Optics (AO) phase retarder capable of providing diffraction or near diffraction limited operation. We will combine the wavefronts from the three telescopes using a conventional beam recombination system and acquire and track the fringes formed with a Low Light Level Fringe Tracking system (LLLFT). The telescopes, fringe tracker. a photon counting (Baker) camera, and LC devices and associated wavefront sensors are novel ideas currently under development at the USAF's Phillips Laboratory (PL) for DSS and theft combination should yield a state-of-the-art system equal or superior in performance to the best of the current generation of AO and Interferometric systems but for a few percent of the cost.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 14, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA415904
Entities
People
- Friedman
Organizations
- University of Puerto Rico