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Effect of telescope alignment on a stellar interferometer.

I L Porro1, W A Traub, N P Carleton

  • 1Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. porro@mpiahd.mpg.de

Applied Optics
|March 8, 2008
PubMed
Summary
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Telescope alignment errors impact ground-based stellar interferometer performance. Wave-front distortions from atmospheric turbulence, servo systems, and optics are more critical than alignment for the IR/Optical Telescope Array (IOTA).

Area of Science:

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Optical Engineering

Background:

  • Ground-based stellar interferometers require precise optical alignment.
  • Wave-front distortions can degrade image quality and observational capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of wave-front distortions on ground-based stellar interferometers.
  • To determine allowable tolerances for telescope mirror alignment.
  • To compare various factors affecting Strehl ratio at the IR/Optical Telescope Array (IOTA).

Main Methods:

  • Developed a computational method to simulate wave-front shapes from misaligned telescopes.
  • Calculated wave-front shape and variance under various misalignment conditions.
  • Estimated Strehl ratios considering ten types of factors, including telescope alignment.

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Main Results:

  • Identified telescope mirror position and tilt tolerances.
  • Found atmospheric turbulence, servo system time constant, and relay optics flatness to be more significant than telescope alignment.
  • Calculated expected Strehl ratios for the IOTA interferometer.

Conclusions:

  • Telescope alignment is a factor, but not the most significant, in overall Strehl ratio.
  • Model estimates show moderate agreement with IOTA observational experience.
  • Results provide guidance for future instrumental improvements in interferometry.