Astronomical Optics (eBook)

Cover 1
Contents 8
Preface 14
Chapter 1. Introduction 18
1.1. A Bit of History 18
1.2. Approach to Subject 21
1.3. Outline of Book 21
Chapter 2. Preliminaries: Definitions and Paraxial Optics 24
2.1. Sign Conventions 25
2.2. Paraxial Equation for Refraction 26
2.3. Paraxial Equation for Reflection 29
2.4. Two-Surface Refracting Elements 31
2.5. Two-Mirror Telescopes 34
2.6. Stops and Pupils 39
2.7. Concluding Remarks 42
Bibliography 43
Chapter 3. Fermat's Principle: An Introduction 44
3.1. Fermat's Principle in General 45
3.2. Fermat's Principle and Refracting Surfaces 48
3.3. Wave Interpretation of Fermat's Principle 53
3.4. Fermat's Principle and Reflecting Surfaces 54
3.5. Conic Sections 58
3.6. Fermat's Principle and the Atmosphere 59
3.7. Concluding Remarks 62
References 64
Bibliography 64
Chapter 4. Introduction to Aberrations 65
4.1. Reflecting Conics and Focal Length 66
4.2. Spherical Aberration 67
4.3. Reflecting Conics and Finite Object Distance 74
4.4. Off-Axis Aberrations 76
4.5. Aberration Compensation 78
References 86
Bibliography 86
Chapter 5. Fermat's Principle and Aberrations 87
5.1. Application to Surface of Revolution 87
5.2. Evaluation of Aberration Coefficients 92
5.3. Ray and Wavefront Aberrations 95
5.4. Summary of Aberration Results, Stop at Surface 101
5.5. Aberrations for Displaced Stop 105
5.6. Aberrations for Multisurface Systems 110
5.7. Curvature of Field 114
5.8. Aberrations for Decentered Pupil 120
5.9. Concluding Remarks 126
Appendix A: Comparison with Seidel Theory 127
References 128
Bibliography 128
Chapter 6. Reflecting Telescopes 129
6.1. Paraboloid 130
6.2. Two-Mirror Telescopes 132
6.3. Alignment Errors in Two-Mirror Telescopes 149
6.4. Three-Mirror Telescopes 161
6.5. Four-Mirror Telescopes 171
6.6. Concluding Remarks 178
References 179
Bibliography 179
Chapter 7. Schmidt Telescopes and Cameras 181
7.1. General Schmidt Configuration 182
7.2. Characteristics of Aspheric Plate 184
7.3. Schmidt Telescope Example 191
7.4. Achromatic Schmidt Telescope 194
7.5. Solid- and Semisolid-Schmidt Cameras 198
References 201
Bibliography 201
Chapter 8. Catadioptric Telescopes and Cameras 202
8.1. Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes 202
8.2. Cameras with Meniscus Correctors 214
8.3. All-Reflecting Wide-Field Systems 221
References 222
Chapter 9. Auxiliary Optics for Telescopes 223
9.1. Field Lenses, Flatteners 224
9.2. Prime Focus Correctors 227
9.3. Cassegrain Focus Correctors 233
9.4. Cassegrain Focal Reducers 237
9.5. Atmospheric Dispersion Correctors 242
9.6. Fiber Optics 254
References 256
Bibliography 256
Chapter 10. Diffraction Theory and Aberrations 257
10.1. Huygens-Fresnel Principle 258
10.2. Perfect Image: Circular Aperture 263
10.3. The Near Perfect Image 274
10.4. Comparison: Geometric Aberrations and the Diffraction Limit 287
10.5. Diffraction Integrals and Fourier Theory 288
References 292
Bibliography 292
Chapter 11. Transfer Functions Hubble Space Telescope
11.1. Transfer Functions and Image Characteristics 294
11.2. Hubble Space Telescope, Prelaunch Expectations 308
11.3. Hubble Space Telescope, Postlaunch Reality 315
11.4. Concluding Remarks 319
References 320
Bibliography 320
Chapter 12. Spectrometry: Definitions and Basic Principles 321
12.1. Introduction and Definitions 322
12.2. Slit Spectrometers 325
12.3. Fiber-Fed Spectrometers 334
12.4. Slitless Spectrometers 335
12.5. Spectrometers in Diffraction Limit 335
References 337
Bibliography 337
Chapter 13. Dispersing Elements and Systems 338
13.1. Dispersing Prism 338
13.2. Diffraction Grating Basic Relations
13.3. Echelles 344
13.4. Grating Efficiency 348
13.5. Fabry-Perot Interferometer 359
13.6. Fourier Transform Spectrometer 364
13.7. Concluding Remarks 367
References 367
Bibliography 367
Chapter 14. Grating Aberrations Concave Grating Spectrometers
14.1. Application of Fermat's Principle to Grating Surface 370
14.2. Grating Aberrations 374
14.3. Concave Grating Mountings 379
References 384
Bibliography 384
Chapter 15. Plane Grating Spectrometers 385
15.1. All-Reflecting Spectrometers 386
15.2. Pixel Matching 394
15.3. Fast Spectrometers 395
15.4. Fiber-Fed Spectrometers 400
15.5. Echelle Spectrometers 401
15.6. Nonobjective Slitless Spectrometers 413
15.7. Concluding Remarks 424
References 424
Bibliography 424
Chapter 16. Adaptive Optics: An Introduction 426
16.1. Effects of Atmospheric Turbulence 427
16.2. Correction of Wavefront Distortion 432
16.3. Adaptive Optics: Systems and Components 438
16.4. Concluding Remarks 440
References 441
Bibliography 441
Chapter 17. Detectors, Signal-to-Noise, and Detection Limits 442
17.1. Detector Characteristics 443
17.2. Signal-to-Noise Ratio 450
17.3. Detection Limits and Signal-to-Noise Ratio 452
17.4. Detection Limits: Stellar Photometry 455
17.5. Detection Limits: Spectroscopy 457
References 460
Bibliography 460
Chapter 18. Large Mirrors and Telescope Arrays 461
18.1. Large Mirrors 461
18.2. Telescope Arrays Interferometers
References 474
Bibliography 474
Table of Symbols 476
Index 484