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Very-wide-angle optical systems suitable for spaceborne photometric measurements
Applied Optics
|February 21, 2008
Summary
Observing the solar corona requires precise photometry, achieved by spreading images over many pixels with large format CCD cameras. This enables simple, wide-angle optical designs for spaceborne imaging.
Area of Science:
- Spaceborne optics
- Solar physics
- Instrument design
Background:
- Observing the solar corona requires high-precision photometry (0.1% differential broadband) over large angular extents.
- Current CCD camera specifications necessitate spreading unresolved images across multiple pixels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate optical design principles for spaceborne solar corona observation.
- To enable simple, lightweight, very-wide-angle optical systems capable of imaging nearly the entire sky.
Main Methods:
- Formulating equations relating sky angle to focal-plane position.
- Determining tangential and sagittal focal surfaces to govern CCD image size.
- Conducting laboratory measurements with prototype optical configurations.
Main Results:
- Established relationships between sky angle and focal-plane position for wide-field imaging.
- Characterized tangential and sagittal focal surfaces crucial for image quality.
- Validated theoretical calculations through experimental measurements.
Conclusions:
- Large image formats on CCDs facilitate necessary photometric precision for solar corona studies.
- The proposed optical design approach enables simplified, lightweight, and wide-angle systems for spaceborne applications.
- The findings support the development of advanced instruments for comprehensive solar observation.
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