DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Laser metrology for coherent multi-telescope arrays

Abstract

In multi-telescope arrays that comprise multiple telescopes, a beam-combining module, and flat mirrors for directing light beams from the multiple telescopes to the beam combining module, a laser metrology system is used for monitoring various pathlengths along a beam path where deviations are likely. Some pathlengths are defined simply by a pair of retroreflectors or reflectors at both ends. Lengths between pairs of retroreflectors are measured and monitored by laser interferometers. One critical pathlength deviation is related to the displacement of the flat mirror. A reference frame is set up relative to the beam-combining module to form and define the coordinate system within which the positions of the flat mirrors are measured and monitored. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of retroreflectors along the optical axis of the beam-combining module defines a reference frame. A triangle is formed by the reference frame as the base and another retroreflector at the flat mirror as the vertex. The triangle is used to monitor the position of the flat mirror. A beam's pathlength is dynamically corrected in response to the monitored deviations.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Pasadena, CA
  2. San Ramon, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
868776
Patent Number(s):
5208654
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01S - RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING
G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
laser; metrology; coherent; multi-telescope; arrays; comprise; multiple; telescopes; beam-combining; module; flat; mirrors; directing; light; beams; beam; combining; monitoring; various; pathlengths; path; deviations; defined; simply; pair; retroreflectors; reflectors; lengths; pairs; measured; monitored; interferometers; critical; pathlength; deviation; related; displacement; mirror; reference; frame; set; relative; form; define; coordinate; positions; preferred; embodiment; optical; axis; defines; triangle; formed; base; retroreflector; vertex; monitor; position; dynamically; corrected; response; flat mirror; optical axis; preferred embodiment; light beam; light beams; beam path; telescope array; directing light; flat mirrors; laser interferometer; laser metrology; multi-telescope arrays; multiple telescopes; combining module; /356/

Citation Formats

Shao, Michael, and Massie, Norbert A. Laser metrology for coherent multi-telescope arrays. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Shao, Michael, & Massie, Norbert A. Laser metrology for coherent multi-telescope arrays. United States.
Shao, Michael, and Massie, Norbert A. Fri . "Laser metrology for coherent multi-telescope arrays". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868776.
@article{osti_868776,
title = {Laser metrology for coherent multi-telescope arrays},
author = {Shao, Michael and Massie, Norbert A},
abstractNote = {In multi-telescope arrays that comprise multiple telescopes, a beam-combining module, and flat mirrors for directing light beams from the multiple telescopes to the beam combining module, a laser metrology system is used for monitoring various pathlengths along a beam path where deviations are likely. Some pathlengths are defined simply by a pair of retroreflectors or reflectors at both ends. Lengths between pairs of retroreflectors are measured and monitored by laser interferometers. One critical pathlength deviation is related to the displacement of the flat mirror. A reference frame is set up relative to the beam-combining module to form and define the coordinate system within which the positions of the flat mirrors are measured and monitored. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of retroreflectors along the optical axis of the beam-combining module defines a reference frame. A triangle is formed by the reference frame as the base and another retroreflector at the flat mirror as the vertex. The triangle is used to monitor the position of the flat mirror. A beam's pathlength is dynamically corrected in response to the monitored deviations.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1993},
month = {1}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Point Arrays Having Compact, Nonredundant Autocorrelations
journal, January 1971


Performance Characteristics Of Phased Array And Thinned Aperture Optical Telescopes
journal, September 1988


Interferometric imaging in optical astronomy
journal, November 1988


Noise considerations in stellar speckle interferometry*†
journal, January 1977


Design Considerations For Multiple Telescope Imaging Arrays
journal, September 1988


Low-cost, high-resolution telescopes for imaging low-earth-orbit satellites
conference, July 1990