Tracker development for the Starfire Optical Range 3.5-meter telescope adaptive optics system

James M. Brown II

doi:10.1117/12.458946

7 February 2003 Tracker development for the starfire optical range 3.5-m telescope adaptive optics system

James M. Brown II

Proceedings Volume 4839, Adaptive Optical System Technologies II; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.458946
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

A new tracker is under development at the Starfire Optical Range (SOR). The tracker system's tilt sensor is based on an optical pyramid that creates a quad-cell effect into avalanche photo diodes, sampled at 5000 frames per second. A suite of hardware and software that allows unprecedented flexibility in control system design and implementation delivers the mirror control signals. The control problems associated with this tracking system are interesting due to lightly damped mirror resonances; these dynamics are handled via a tight inner cage loop. Thus, the controller makes use of both optical feedback and mirror position feedback. This paper discusses the design and implementation of the entire tracker system, including sensor characteristics, steering mirror characteristics, electronics, and control algorithms implemented. Experimental results are presented.

Citation Download Citation

James M. Brown II "Tracker development for the starfire optical range 3.5-m telescope adaptive optics system", Proc. SPIE 4839, Adaptive Optical System Technologies II, (7 February 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.458946

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