Active optics system of the VLT Survey Telescope

Journal
APPLIED OPTICS
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
•
Noethe, Lothar
•
•
Kuijken, Konrad
•
•
Argomedo, Javier
•
CAPACCIOLI, Massimo
•
•
•
•
•
Holzlöhner, Ronald
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
DOI
10.1364/AO.55.001573
Abstract
This paper describes the active optics system of the VLT Survey Telescope, the 2.6-m survey telescope designed for visible wavelengths of the European Southern Observatory at Cerro Paranal, in the Atacama desert. The telescope is characterized by a wide field of view (1.42 deg diameter), leading to tighter active optics than in conventional telescopes, in particular for the alignment requirements. We discuss the effects of typical error sources on the image quality and present the specific solutions adopted for wavefront sensing and correction of the aberrations, which are based on the shaping of a monolithic primary mirror and the positioning of the secondary in five degrees of freedom.
Volume
55
Issue
7
Start page
1573
File(s)
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

252623.pdf

Description
postprint
Size

3.73 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

49b9608c553519b9e545a8ffbfcf4652

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

ao-55-7-1573.pdf

Description
[Administrators only]
Size

2.74 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

7fc9d4ca042fc2a7c6291aa950807cbc