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 aigning 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.
- Inventors:
-
- Powell, TN
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 868941
- Patent Number(s):
- 5249033
- Assignee:
- Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01B - MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01S - RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- automated; interferometric; alignment; paraboloidal; mirrors; method; described; systematic; interpreting; interference; fringes; obtained; corner; cube; retroreflector; aigning; paraboloid; spherical; wavefront; applicable; required; specifically; aligning; autocollimating; diverging; beam; addition; provides; information; systematically; interpreted; independent; pitch; yaw; focus; errors; lends; readily; automation; finally; developed; paraboloids; seen; variety; aspheric; optics; applied; combination; corrector; produces; reflected; correctly; aligned; surface; produce; collimated; spherical wave; method provides; provides information; method provide; aspheric surface; aspheric optics; beam wavefront; interference fringes; interference fringe; paraboloidal mirrors; paraboloidal mirror; corner cube; /356/
Citation Formats
Maxey, L Curtis. Automated interferometric alignment system for paraboloidal mirrors. United States: N. p., 1993.
Web.
Maxey, L Curtis. Automated interferometric alignment system for paraboloidal mirrors. United States.
Maxey, L Curtis. Fri .
"Automated interferometric alignment system for paraboloidal mirrors". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868941.
@article{osti_868941,
title = {Automated interferometric alignment system for paraboloidal mirrors},
author = {Maxey, L Curtis},
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 aigning 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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}
Works referenced in this record:
How To Align An Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror
conference, October 1989
- Bond, Christopher; Pipan, Cyril A.
- SPIE 1989 Technical Symposium on Aerospace Sensing, SPIE Proceedings