Abstract

Many astrophysical observations require large diameter space borne optics. Because of the limited space and weight requirements for boost into orbit and manufacturing limitations, large diamteter optics pose a problem. Multi-aperture optical systems may provide a solution. This theoretical analysis examined many multi-aperture systems (Figure 1) and determined that multi-aperture systems composed of 19, 37, 61, and 91 apertures could provide impulse responses (displayed in Figure 2) which were superior to that of a single large optic of an equivalent diameter. The multi-aperture systems were superior in the sense that the secondary lobe irradiance maxima of these systems was less than 0.0175, the secondary lobe irradiance of the single large aperture. In all cases, the central lobe widths of the impulse responses were equal to that of the single large aperture of equivalent diameter. The addition of obstructions which covered the central portion of each aperture (to simulate a Cassegrain telescope system) caused the secondary lobe irradiance maxima to be reduced further for the 19 and 19 (rotated) aperture systems. Figure 3 displays the results of this analysis. For obscured and unobscured cases, the 19 (rotated) aperture system exhibited the lowest side lobes.

© 1988 Optical Society of America