Ultralightweight silicon carbide infrared cryogenic telescope

Michael I. Anapol; Richard Philippon; Theodore W. Tucker; Dean Kraft; Jeff Bond

doi:10.1117/12.225293

23 October 1995 Ultralightweight silicon carbide infrared cryogenic telescope

Michael I. Anapol, Richard Philippon, Theodore W. Tucker, Dean Kraft, Jeff Bond

Proceedings Volume 2543, Silicon Carbide Materials for Optics and Precision Structures; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.225293
Event: SPIE's 1995 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1995, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

A wide range of next generation spaceborne strategic and measurement/science applications require very lightweight, low cost, reflective telescopes with wide wavelength coverage, capable of near diffraction limited image quality over wide temperature ranges to cryogenic operation. A silicon carbide (SiC) telescope is an extremely attractive technology which offers (1) the lightweight and stiffness features of beryllium, (2) the optical performance of glass to visible quality, (3) superior optical/thermal stability to cryogenic temperatures, and (4) the low cost, fast fabrication processes of aluminum. This paper describes an ultralightweight (less than 1.5 kg), 18 cm aperture, 4 mirror off axis re-imaging infrared SiC telescope assembly designed in a 'flight-worthy' configuration. The overall design approach is described including comparison of telescope structural analysis to vibration test data. The telescope optical performance has been measured from 300 degrees Kelvin to less than 100 degrees Kelvin, including repeated thermal cycles; the rms wavefront change over this temperature range at 10.6 micrometer is less than 0.02 waves with no observed hysteresis, which demonstrates SiC technology to satisfy near diffraction limited infrared capability at cryogenic temperatures.

Citation Download Citation

Michael I. Anapol, Richard Philippon, Theodore W. Tucker, Dean Kraft, and Jeff Bond "Ultralightweight silicon carbide infrared cryogenic telescope", Proc. SPIE 2543, Silicon Carbide Materials for Optics and Precision Structures, (23 October 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.225293

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available