Radiation-induced wave-front aberrations: a new approach

Area of Science:

• Optical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Radiation Physics

Background:

• Optical systems in space are exposed to significant gamma radiation.
• Wave-front aberrations can degrade the performance of diffraction-limited optical systems.
• Understanding radiation-induced effects is crucial for designing robust space optics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present experimental evidence of gamma radiation-induced wave-front aberrations.
• To quantify these aberrations using a phenomenological approach with dose coefficients.
• To assess the relevance of these aberrations for radiation-hardened glasses in space applications.

Main Methods:

• Experimental investigation of gamma radiation effects on optical systems.
• Application of a phenomenological approach based on dose coefficients.
• Measurement of dose coefficients for LaK9 and LaK9G15 optical glasses.

Main Results:

• Gamma radiation causes significant wave-front aberrations in optical systems.
• The dose coefficient approach effectively quantifies radiation-induced aberrations.
• Measured dose coefficients for LaK9 and LaK9G15 glasses validate the methodology.

Conclusions:

• Radiation-induced wave-front aberrations are a significant concern for optical systems.
• The dose coefficient method provides accurate quantification for diffraction-limited systems.
• Effects must be considered for space optical systems, even those using radiation-hardened glasses.