Wavefront calibration and correction of an optical train path: a compliant static deformable mirror approach

James H. Clark III; F. Ernesto Penado; Frank Cornelius

doi:10.1117/12.856970

21 July 2010 Wavefront calibration and correction of an optical train path: a compliant static deformable mirror approach

James H. Clark III, F. Ernesto Penado, Frank Cornelius

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7734, Optical and Infrared Interferometry II; 773429 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856970
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

For ground-based optical interferometry, the simple specification of high surface quality flat relay mirrors is not the end of the story for obtaining high quality fringes. The Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer array transports the stellar radiation from six primary collectors through a 10-reflection vacuum relay system, resulting in six separate combinable wavefronts. The surface error of each of the 60 relay mirrors is specified to be no greater than 32 nm peak-to-valley for fabrication purposes. However, once mounted in the 10-element optical train the errors from each mirror do not necessarily cancel one another, but can add and increase the resultant wavefront distortion for that path. This leads to fringe contrast reduction, reduced ability to fringe track, and a reduction in the limiting magnitude of observable objects. Fortunately, the total wavefront distortion for each train can be measured, calibrated, and nullified by using a phaseshifting interferometer combined with a compliant static deformable mirror and control system. In this paper we describe a system that mitigates the resultant wavefront distortion.

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James H. Clark III, F. Ernesto Penado, and Frank Cornelius "Wavefront calibration and correction of an optical train path: a compliant static deformable mirror approach", Proc. SPIE 7734, Optical and Infrared Interferometry II, 773429 (21 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856970

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KEYWORDS

Mirrors

Wavefronts

Relays

Adaptive optics

Photovoltaics

Interferometers

Calibration

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