Design of an Optical Receiver and Laser Collimator Including a Status Report on Manufacture.
Abstract:
The Optical Receiver consists of two main sections, a twelve inch aperture Cassegrain telescope, and a two channel photodetector assembly. The light collected by the Cassegrain is divided by a beamsplitter such that 6943 A light is transmitted and the remainder of the visual and near I.R. spectrum is reflected. Both channels contain accurately boresighted variable field stops, suitable collimating and reimaging optics, and a high efficiency fast rise time photomultiplier. The transmission channel contains a tuneable 1 A wide narrow band filter for use between 6940 A and 6945 A. The laser collimator is an all fused silica 11.5 inch aperture 18 X beam expander. The system is capable of diffraction limited performance at collimated focus, and in addition has adjustable beam spreading capability. The combination of fused silica optics with an invar cell provides extremely high thermal stability. Modified author abstract