Low Cost, Lightweight, Large Aperture, Laser Transmitter/Receiver

Robert E. Parks; Lian Zhen Shao

doi:10.1117/12.955581

11 October 1989 Low Cost, Lightweight, Large Aperture, Laser Transmitter/Receiver

Robert E. Parks, Lian Zhen Shao

Proceedings Volume 1113, Reflective Optics II; (1989) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.955581
Event: SPIE 1989 Technical Symposium on Aerospace Sensing, 1989, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

For many LIDAR and laser atmospheric propagation experiments, large aperture, near diffraction limited optics with very small field of view and wavelength range requirements are needed. These optics should be compact and lightweight so they may be transported to various areas of experimental interest. It is also important that the cost per unit area of aperture be low. We present an optical and mechanical design of a catadioptric telescope system that meets the above requirements. It is a Cassegrain type telescope design with a Mangin secondary mirror and a low f/#, spherical primary to achieve compactness at low expense. A slumped, lightweight, borosilicate primary mirror keeps the system light weight and inexpensive. An athermal secondary mirror support maintains primary-secondary mirror separation passively. Using this design, a 1.4 m diameter, zenith pointing LIDAR transmitter/receiver fits into a semi tractor-trailer along with all the necessary support hardware. This telescope could be built for about $100 per square inch of aperture and would weigh less than 1200 lbs.

Citation Download Citation

Robert E. Parks and Lian Zhen Shao "Low Cost, Lightweight, Large Aperture, Laser Transmitter/Receiver", Proc. SPIE 1113, Reflective Optics II, (11 October 1989); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.955581

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