Free-forms optics into astronomical use: the case of an all-mirror anamorphic collimator

Paolo Spanò

doi:10.1117/12.789183

23 July 2008 Free-forms optics into astronomical use: the case of an all-mirror anamorphic collimator

Paolo Spanò

Proceedings Volume 7018, Advanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation; 701840 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789183
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

Up to now, optical design of astronomical instrumentation has been based onto "classical" surfaces, i.e. plano surfaces, spherical surfaces, and some classes of aspheric surfaces. More complex surfaces (like cylinders), are used from time to time to correct for aberrations. A new class of more general surfaces, i.e. non-rotationally symmetrical and completely "free-form" surfaces have been recently introduced. Their use in astronomy, however, has not widely used so far. We propose a new layout for an anamorphic collimator based onto two "free-form" cylinder surfaces, giving diffraction limited images. This collimator can be used to create an elliptical pupil, and allows reducing size of optical systems, too. Two interesting cases of application in astronomy are shown: a very-high resolution spectrograph for large telescopes, and an interferometer cavity to test large plano optics.

Citation Download Citation

Paolo Spanò "Free-forms optics into astronomical use: the case of an all-mirror anamorphic collimator", Proc. SPIE 7018, Advanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation, 701840 (23 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789183

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