1. Beam combination with a large number of apertures
- Author
-
D. Mozurkewich and Aboubakar Traore
- Subjects
Physics ,Coupling ,Masking (art) ,Aperture ,business.industry ,Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics ,Fiber array ,law.invention ,Telescope ,Interferometry ,Optics ,law ,Astronomical interferometer ,business ,Beam (structure) - Abstract
The design of a space-based interferometer with a large number of apertures has been a subject of much discussion. In this paper, we argue in favor of using a Michelson beam combiner for the case where a small field of view is acceptable. We address the normal criticism that a Michelson combiner is too complicated by presenting an optical design for a 90-aperture, laboratory prototype. Coupling this device to a large, ground-based telescope with a coherent fiber array forms an imaging system that is a significant improvement over aperture masking.
- Published
- 2010