A fiber-linked version of project TRIO.
Abstract
It is shown that the TRIO spaceborne telescope array can be simplified by using two equal-length single-mode fibers to connect the two telescopes to the central station. The price to be paid is mostly a reduction of base-length at the short wavelength end of the spectrum. The number of parameters to be accurately controlled is much reduced: one merely has to guide telescopes and null path-difference. All motions of the central station become irrelevant. Star acquisition is performed in a docked configuration of all three elements. The necessary cables may also be used to feed power to the two telescopes; hence these require neither power generating nor propulsion devices. Possible base line scanning methods either in high orbits (e.g., at the Lagrange points) or in low orbits are discussed.
- Publication:
-
Kilometric Optical Arrays in Space
- Pub Date:
- April 1985
- Bibcode:
- 1985ESASP.226...49C
- Keywords:
-
- Fiber Optics;
- Optical Coupling;
- Spaceborne Astronomy;
- Spaceborne Telescopes;
- Synthetic Arrays;
- Cassegrain Optics;
- Coherent Light;
- Light Transmission;
- Michelson Interferometers;
- Astronomy;
- Fiber Optics:Space Instrumentation;
- Interferometers:Space Instrumentation;
- Space Instrumentation:Fiber Optics;
- Space Instrumentation:Interferometers