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Advanced Optics and Sensing Technologies for Telescopes

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Sensing and Imaging".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2024) | Viewed by 1410

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: freeform optics design; optical system development; astronomical optics; computational imaging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of astronomy is always linked with advanced optical instruments. The electromagnetic spectrum observed by astronomical telescopes provides us the leading information sources to understand the universe. Astronomers first used visible light to study the universe, then expanded to non-visible light such as radio waves, infrared rays, X-rays, ultraviolet rays, and gamma-rays. The exciting thing is that gravitational waves are utilized to conduct research on the growth of the universe and the evolution of celestial bodies, which is far from being an extension of the electromagnetic spectrum.

All of the deployed and on-going observatories require continuous improvements in terms of large and precision optical surface fabrication and advanced telescope system development. There are still many challenges in advanced optics and sensing technologies for telescopes, such as insights on the relationship between the science objectives and the telescope requirements, novel optical design methods for telescopes, sensors for telescope control system, accurate optical surface testing, optical coating for the particular application, active and adaptive optics technology, and stray light suppression to reduce cost and engineering risk. Therefore, the current state of the pivotal technologies and effective solutions to the presented challenges for telescope system are the key areas of this Special Issue.

The areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Designs of modern large optical telescopes;
  • Telescopes for gravitational wave detection;
  • Aspherical and freeform mirrors for high-resolution telescopes;
  • High-energy optical/IR/FIR detectors;
  • Wavefront sensing and wavefront control;
  • Active and adaptive optics and laser guide star facility;
  • Advanced manufacture technology for large-aperture telescopes;
  • Control systems and structural, mechanical, and thermal engineering;
  • High-resolution spectrometer for telescopes.

Dr. Donglin Ma
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • telescope design
  • telescope mirror fabrication
  • telescope mirror testing
  • telescope interferometry
  • adaptive optics
  • wavefront sensing
  • telescope coating technology
  • astronomical instrumentation
  • telescope spectrometer

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 2014 KiB  
Article
Measurement Campaign of Radio Frequency Interference in a Portion of the C-Band (4–5.8 GHz) for the Sardinia Radio Telescope
by Luca Schirru and Francesco Gaudiomonte
Sensors 2024, 24(19), 6481; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24196481 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 405
Abstract
Radio frequency interference (RFI) analysis is crucial for ensuring the proper functioning of a radio telescope and the quality of astronomical observations, as human-generated interference can compromise scientific data collection. The aim of this study is to present the results of an RFI [...] Read more.
Radio frequency interference (RFI) analysis is crucial for ensuring the proper functioning of a radio telescope and the quality of astronomical observations, as human-generated interference can compromise scientific data collection. The aim of this study is to present the results of an RFI measurement campaign in the frequency range of 4–5.8 GHz, a portion of the well-known C-band, for the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT), conducted in October–November 2023. In fact, this Italian telescope, managed by the Astronomical Observatory of Cagliari (OAC), a branch of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), was recently equipped with a new C-band receiver that operates from 4.2 GHz to 5.6 GHz. The measurements were carried out at three strategically chosen locations around the telescope using the INAF mobile laboratory, providing comprehensive coverage of all possible antenna pointing directions. The results revealed several sources of RFI, including emissions from radar, terrestrial and satellite communications, and wireless transmissions. Characterizing these sources and assessing their frequency band occupation are essential for understanding the impact of RFI on scientific observations. This work provides a significant contribution to astronomers who will use the SRT for scientific observations, offering a suggestion for the development of mitigation strategies and safeguarding the radio astronomical environment for future observational campaigns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Optics and Sensing Technologies for Telescopes)
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10 pages, 1883 KiB  
Article
Geometry Selection in Three-Mirror Freeform Imagers with an Accessible Exit Pupil
by Aaron Bauer, Eric M. Schiesser and Jannick P. Rolland
Sensors 2024, 24(15), 4816; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24154816 - 24 Jul 2024
Viewed by 687
Abstract
Reimaging telescopes have an accessible exit pupil that facilitates stray light mitigation and matching to auxiliary optical systems. Freeform surfaces present the opportunity for unobscured reflective systems to be folded into geometries that are otherwise impracticable with conventional surface types. It is critical, [...] Read more.
Reimaging telescopes have an accessible exit pupil that facilitates stray light mitigation and matching to auxiliary optical systems. Freeform surfaces present the opportunity for unobscured reflective systems to be folded into geometries that are otherwise impracticable with conventional surface types. It is critical, however, to understand the limitations of the enabled folding geometries and choose the one that best balances the optical performance and mechanical requirements. Here, we used the aberration theory of freeform surfaces to determine the aberration correction potential for using freeform surfaces in reimaging three-mirror telescopes and established a hierarchy for the different folding geometries without using optimization. We found that when using freeform optics, the ideal folding geometry had 9× better wavefront performance compared to the next best geometry. Within that ideal geometry, the system using freeform optics had 39% better wavefront performance compared to a system using off-axis asphere surfaces, thus quantifying one of the advantages of freeform optics in this design space. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Optics and Sensing Technologies for Telescopes)
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