Novel designs for minimizing diffraction effects of large segmented mirror telescopes

James E. Harvey; James B. Breckinridge; Ryan G Irvin; Richard N. Pfisterer

doi:10.1117/12.2326923

17 September 2018 Novel designs for minimizing diffraction effects of large segmented mirror telescopes

James E. Harvey, James B. Breckinridge, Ryan G Irvin, Richard N. Pfisterer

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Proceedings Volume 10745, Current Developments in Lens Design and Optical Engineering XIX; 107450L (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2326923
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2018, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Diffraction effects of large segmented mirror gaps and secondary mirror support struts produce diffraction peaks or flares that are a detriment to exoplanet detection. In this paper we present a detailed diffraction analysis of innovative segmented mirror concepts utilizing curved segment gaps and secondary support struts that eliminate these diffraction spikes that can obscure the faint exoplanet image. The resulting diffraction performance will be quantitatively compared to that of both monolithic circular pupils and classical hexagonally segmented mirrors. We will utilize performance-based merit functions consisting of both radial and azimuthal profiles of the resulting telescope point spread function.

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James E. Harvey, James B. Breckinridge, Ryan G Irvin, and Richard N. Pfisterer "Novel designs for minimizing diffraction effects of large segmented mirror telescopes", Proc. SPIE 10745, Current Developments in Lens Design and Optical Engineering XIX, 107450L (17 September 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2326923

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