Numerical phase front propagation for a large-baseline space interferometer

Miltiadis V. Papalexandris; Eugene Waluschka

doi:10.1117/1.1558087

1 April 2003 Numerical phase front propagation for a large-baseline space interferometer

Miltiadis V. Papalexandris, Eugene Waluschka

Optical Engineering, Vol. 42, Issue 4, (April 2003). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1558087

We report on numerical studies of phase front propagation for a large-baseline space interferometer. The main objective is to determine the sensitivity of the average phase of the metrology beam with respect to fluctuations in the pointing of the beam. For this purpose, the metrology beam is propagated numerically along the interferometric arm of the instrument. The effects of the obscurations from the secondary mirror and its supporting struts are studied in detail. Further, the effects of wavefront distortions that occur due to imperfections of the optical elements are estimated through a series of Monte Carlo simulations. The results of this study can be used to determine design requirements for the instrument.

©(2003) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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Miltiadis V. Papalexandris and Eugene Waluschka "Numerical phase front propagation for a large-baseline space interferometer," Optical Engineering 42(4), (1 April 2003). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1558087

Published: 1 April 2003

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