By placing a mask over the pupil of the optical telescope, the aperture masking technique transforms the telescope into a Fizeau interferometry telescope. Thanks to reasonable aperture configuration and baseline rotation techniques, it is possible to achieve almost the same imaging quality as a full aperture telescope. This technique has shown great potential in astrometry and astrophysics research, such as: exoplanet detection, protoplanetary disk, brown dwarf, etc. In order to verify the image restoration algorithm, we carried out binary stars observations on 1.56-m telescope. We presented the numerical simulation of aperture configuration and baseline rotation, and designed the mask and the experimental system. We select some binary stars with magnitude from 5 to 7 and angular distance from 0.2 to 2arcsec as observation targets. Combined with the short exposure observation, a two-step image restoration method is proposed, the results of high-resolution image reconstruction and angular distance measurement are verified. The above results will be applied to the first-generation Fizeau interferometry prototype at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO).
To achieve high-resolution image using optical synthesis aperture telescope, it’s necessary to co-phase accurately of all the telescopes so as to reduce the effect of co-phase errors including piston error, tip/tilt error, and mapping error, etc. Though simulation analysis of the optical system, error sources can be identified and thus save time of alignment. This paper introduces the Fizeau-type Y-4 prototype under development, including the layout of the Y-4 prototype, the layout of the reflective mirrors in the delayed light paths and the beam combiner. With the optical transfer function as the evaluation index, the actual equivalent diameter of Y-4 prototype is calculated. Furthermore, the effect of polarization introduced by coating and polarization differences on the contrast of interference fringe is analyzed. At present, the installation and alignment of the prototype in laboratory have been completed, and the interference synthesis of 4 light paths has been realized. One aim of this paper is to share some experiences in optical design and detection for the development of optical synthetic aperture telescopes. Another aim is to expand these new techniques to the larger optical synthesis aperture telescope project in the future.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
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.