Abstract

Many astrophysical observations require large diameter spaceborne optics. Because of the limited space and weight requirements for boost into orbit and manufacturing limitations, large diameter optics pose a problem. Multiaperture optical systems may provide a solution. This theoretical analysis determined that multiaperture systems with the same equivalent diameter as a single large circular optic could provide an impulse response which is superior to that of the single large optic. In addition, the diffraction patterns of these multiaperture systems contained 75% of the total irradiance of the large optic. Various numbers, sizes, and configurations of apertures (constrained by the diameter of the single large optic) were examined to find the impulse response which minimized the secondary sidelobe irradiance of the far-field diffraction pattern. The multiaperture systems, containing 19 and 37 apertures, were composed of symmetric concentric rings of circular apertures. These apertures filled the single large optic. The results of this research indicate that the central lobe width of the impulse response of the multiaperture system was equal to that of the single large optic. In addition, the secondary sidelobe irradiance maxima of the multiaperture system was 0.0148 compared with 0.0174 of the single large optic.

© 1987 Optical Society of America