Concurrent engineering of a next-generation freeform telescope: optical design

Aaron Bauer; Eric M. Schiesser; Jannick P. Rolland

doi:10.1117/12.2519174

14 May 2019 Concurrent engineering of a next-generation freeform telescope: optical design

Aaron Bauer, Eric M. Schiesser, Jannick P. Rolland

Proceedings Volume 10998, Advanced Optics for Imaging Applications: UV through LWIR IV; 109980W (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2519174
Event: SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, 2019, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

The latest generation of optical sensing hardware comprise optical surfaces without rotational symmetry, commonly known as freeform optics. Whether the goal is obtaining more information by using a larger aperture and/or field of view or to decrease the overall footprint of the system, freeform optics have demonstrated unique capabilities to enable these advancements. However, it is critical to use concurrent engineering practices between design, fabrication, and testing to ensure that the final system meets the required design specifications after applying manufacturing tolerances, can be fabricated, and is able to be tested using the available technologies, all while staying within the budget for the project. Here, we describe the collaborative effort between two universities, specifically as it relates to optical design, to create a 250 mm aperture-class telescope that operates at F/3 over a full field of view of 3 degrees along the diagonal. The optical system utilizes all reflective surfaces whose surface shapes are freeforms described by orthogonal polynomials. The freeform benefit was realized in the package size of the system, which was minimized to the extent possible (40 liters) while maintaining diffraction-limited optical performance over the full field-of-view in the visible spectrum.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Aaron Bauer, Eric M. Schiesser, and Jannick P. Rolland "Concurrent engineering of a next-generation freeform telescope: optical design", Proc. SPIE 10998, Advanced Optics for Imaging Applications: UV through LWIR IV, 109980W (14 May 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2519174

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available