U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical Information
Automated interferometric alignment system for paraboloidal mirrors
Abstract
A method is described for a systematic method of interpreting interference fringes obtained by using a corner cube retroreflector as an alignment aid when aligning a paraboloid to a spherical wavefront. This is applicable to any general case where such alignment is required, but is specifically applicable in the case of aligning an autocollimating test using a diverging beam wavefront. In addition, the method provides information which can be systematically interpreted such that independent information about pitch, yaw and focus errors can be obtained. Thus, the system lends itself readily to automation. Finally, although the method is developed specifically for paraboloids, it can be seen to be applicable to a variety of other aspheric optics when applied in combination with a wavefront corrector that produces a wavefront which, when reflected from the correctly aligned aspheric surface will produce a collimated wavefront like that obtained from the paraboloid when it is correctly aligned to a spherical wavefront. 14 figures.
- Inventors:
- Publication Date:
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5355082
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5249033; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-799591
- Assignee:
- Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 27 Nov 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 42 ENGINEERING; MIRRORS; ALIGNMENT; AUTOMATION; DESIGN; INTERFEROMETRY; 420200* - Engineering- Facilities, Equipment, & Techniques
Citation Formats
Maxey, L C. Automated interferometric alignment system for paraboloidal mirrors. United States: N. p., 1993.
Web.
Maxey, L C. Automated interferometric alignment system for paraboloidal mirrors. United States.
Maxey, L C. 1993.
"Automated interferometric alignment system for paraboloidal mirrors". United States.
@article{osti_5355082,
title = {Automated interferometric alignment system for paraboloidal mirrors},
author = {Maxey, L C},
abstractNote = {A method is described for a systematic method of interpreting interference fringes obtained by using a corner cube retroreflector as an alignment aid when aligning a paraboloid to a spherical wavefront. This is applicable to any general case where such alignment is required, but is specifically applicable in the case of aligning an autocollimating test using a diverging beam wavefront. In addition, the method provides information which can be systematically interpreted such that independent information about pitch, yaw and focus errors can be obtained. Thus, the system lends itself readily to automation. Finally, although the method is developed specifically for paraboloids, it can be seen to be applicable to a variety of other aspheric optics when applied in combination with a wavefront corrector that produces a wavefront which, when reflected from the correctly aligned aspheric surface will produce a collimated wavefront like that obtained from the paraboloid when it is correctly aligned to a spherical wavefront. 14 figures.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5355082},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 28 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Tue Sep 28 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}