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Experimental investigation in nodal aberration theory (NAT) with a customized Ritchey-Chrétien system: third-order coma.
- Source :
-
Optics express [Opt Express] 2018 Apr 02; Vol. 26 (7), pp. 8729-8743. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Nodal aberration theory (NAT) describes the aberration properties of optical systems without symmetry. NAT was fully described mathematically and investigated through real-ray tracing software, but an experimental investigation is yet to be realized. In this study, a two-mirror Ritchey-Chrétien telescope was designed and built, including testing of the mirrors in null configurations, for experimental investigation of NAT. A feature of this custom telescope is a high-precision hexapod that controls the secondary mirror of the telescope to purposely introduce system misalignments and quantify the introduced aberrations interferometrically. A method was developed to capture interferograms for multiple points across the field of view without moving the interferometer. A simulation result of Fringe Zernike coma was generated and analyzed to provide a direct comparison with the experimental results. A statistical analysis of the measurements was conducted to assess residual differences between simulations and experimental results. The interferograms were consistent with the simulations, thus experimentally validating NAT for third-order coma.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1094-4087
- Volume :
- 26
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Optics express
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 29715837
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.26.008729