Alignment of Vacuum Feed Stations on the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer

Abstract

At the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI) we have developed a two-stage method for preparation and installation of the optical feed relay stations (elevators). This method reduces contamination, increases consistency, and allows greater management in testing and upgrades. In stage one, we prepare a pre-alignment facility in a laboratory. Using this facility we accurately position the feed stations, internal optics and detector optics relative to the NPOI array line-of-sight. The feed station is cleaned, assembled, internally aligned, tested and placed in its vacuum canister. It is stored under vacuum until transported to the array. In stage two, we align the station on the array by global five-axis adjustments of the vacuum canister. No further independent internal alignments are necessary. The canister is continuously under vacuum during global alignments. We describe the methodology and techniques for installing the optical feed stations.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA477246

Entities

People

  • G. Charmaine Gilbreath
  • James A. Clark Iii
  • James F. Howard
  • James Murphy
  • John Thomas Armstrong
  • Joshua P. Walton
  • Long Ha
  • Robert B. Hindsley
  • Thomas A. Pauls

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Assembly
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Delay Lines
  • Interferometers
  • Military Research
  • Mirrors
  • Navy
  • Observatories
  • Optical Interferometers
  • Platforms
  • Prototypes
  • Research Facilities
  • Rotation
  • Specifications
  • Telescopes
  • Test Facilities

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Software Engineering