Abstract

We study the impact of the loss of axial symmetry around the optical axis on the polarimetric properties of a telescope with a segmented primary mirror when each segment is present in a different aging stage. The different oxidation stage of each segment as it is substituted in time leads to nonnegligible cross-talk terms. This effect is wavelength dependent, and it is mainly determined by the properties of the reflecting material. For an aluminum coating, the worst polarimetric behavior due to oxidation is found for the blue part of the visible. Contrarily, dust—as modeled in this work—does not significantly change the polarimetric behavior of the optical system. Depending on the telescope, there might be segment substitution sequences that strongly attenuate this instrumental polarization.

© 2022 Optica Publishing Group

In-plane effects on segmented-mirror control

Douglas G. MacMynowski, Lewis C. Roberts, J. Chris Shelton, Gary Chanan, and Henri Bonnet
Appl. Opt. 51(12) 1929-1938 (2012)

Active hexagonally segmented mirror to investigate new optical phasing technologies for segmented telescopes

Frédéric Gonté, Christophe Dupuy, Bruno Luong, Christoph Frank, Roland Brast, and Baback Sedghi
Appl. Opt. 48(32) 6392-6399 (2009)

Active maintenance of a segmented mirror based on edge and tip sensing

Bin Wang, Yichun Dai, Zhenyu Jin, Dehua Yang, and Fangyu Xu
Appl. Opt. 60(24) 7421-7431 (2021)

Approach based on χ² to phasing segmented-mirror telescopes using multiple wavelengths: data reduction, wavelength selection, capture range

Gary Chanan, Matthias Schoeck, and Mitchell Troy
Appl. Opt. 61(4) 935-944 (2022)

Design considerations for a highly segmented mirror

Stephen Padin
Appl. Opt. 42(16) 3305-3312 (2003)