Development and application of spherically curved charge-coupled device imagers.

Area of Science:

• Optical engineering
• Astronomy instrumentation
• Detector technology

Background:

• Flat focal planes in optical systems can limit performance, especially in wide field-of-view or large-format imagers.
• Achieving diffraction-limited performance and uniform illumination is crucial for advanced imaging applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the advantages of operating Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) imagers on curved focal surfaces.
• To explore the performance benefits and applications of curved focal plane designs in optical systems.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of modulation transfer function (MTF) for spherical focal surfaces.
• Evaluation of illumination uniformity across curved focal planes.
• Case studies of compact and large-format curved imager applications, including the Space Surveillance Telescope.
• Characterization of operational parameters and mechanical limits for deformed imagers (15 mm radius).

Main Results:

• Curved focal surfaces enable modulation transfer function to approach diffraction-limited performance.
• Spherical focal surfaces provide more uniform illumination compared to flat designs.
• Demonstrated applications in compact imagers and large-scale systems like the Space Surveillance Telescope.

Conclusions:

• Curved focal surfaces offer significant advantages for CCD imagers, enhancing optical performance and illumination.
• This technology is suitable for lightweight, simple optical systems and large-format imaging applications.
• Mechanical deformation of imagers to specific radii is feasible and characterized.