Simple techniques for modeling wavefront error in imaging systems

Scott Schnee; Stephen Cota

doi:10.1117/12.2191325

8 September 2015 Simple techniques for modeling wavefront error in imaging systems

Scott Schnee, Stephen Cota

Proceedings Volume 9607, Earth Observing Systems XX; 96071B (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2191325
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The performance of an optical system depends on the characteristics manufacturing errors of the mirrors, including aberrations on the primary mirror. When designing a system and evaluating its expected performance, the exact nature of the aberrations is not known beforehand, so approximations and simplifying assumptions need to be made. A common assumption is that aberrations of the primary mirror take the form of correlated Gaussian peaks and valleys about the ideal (perfectly spherical) primary mirror. The effect of such correlated Gaussian imperfections can be calculated in an average sense, using the optical quality factor (OQF) to modify the diffraction-limited modulation transfer function (MTF). Alternatively, a single instantiation of the aberrations can be added as phase variations to the pupil function, followed by calculation of the MTF. In this paper we compare these two methods of modeling the effects of correlated Gaussian aberrations on the MTF and point spread function (PSF). We explore the parameter space within which the OQF approximation is valid and the range of possible MTFs resulting from individual instantiations of the aberrations.

Citation Download Citation

Scott Schnee and Stephen Cota "Simple techniques for modeling wavefront error in imaging systems", Proc. SPIE 9607, Earth Observing Systems XX, 96071B (8 September 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2191325

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