Laser Metrology System for Radio Telescopes

射电望远镜激光计量系统

• 批准号: 9261259
• 负责人: Michael Hercher
• 金额: $ 4.97万
• 依托单位: OPTRA Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1993
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1993-01-01 至 1993-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9261259&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Laser; Metrology; System; Radio; Telescopes

A highly precise remote measurement system is proposed for the purpose of dynamically maintaining the figure of sub-millimeter- wave radio telescope reflectors. Such structures are normally distorted by the combined effects of wind forces and differential thermal expansion. The result of such distortions is that the telescopes are unable to achieve diffraction-limited angular resolution. The implementation of a servo system in such telescopes would, at very small incremental cost, improve their performance (angular resolution) by as much as an order of magnitude. Such a servo system needs actuators to control the figure, and a metrology system to generate the error signals which drive the actuators. This proposal is aimed at creating the necessary metrology system. It should be noted that modern submillimeter-wave antennae (or reflector dishes) are already equipped with mechanical actuators, which are used to bring the reflector to its optimum shape following installation. It should be relatively straightforward matter to provide these actuators with electronic controls to complete the servo loop. The proposed technology should be applicable not only to future telescopes and telescopes under construction, but also as a retrofit to existing submillimeter-wave telescopes.

提出了一种高精度的遥测系统， 动态保持亚毫米量级外形的目的， 电波射电望远镜反射器 这种结构通常 由于风力和温差的共同作用而变形 热膨胀 这种扭曲的结果是， 望远镜无法达到衍射极限的角度 分辨率 伺服系统在这种情况下的实现 望远镜将以非常小的增量成本提高其 性能（角分辨率）的数量级 大小 这样的伺服系统需要致动器来控制 图，以及用于生成误差信号的计量系统，该误差信号 驱动执行器。 该提案旨在建立 必要的计量系统。 应该指出，现代 亚毫米波天线（或反射盘）已经 配备机械执行器，用于将 安装后将反射器调整到最佳形状。 应当 提供这些致动器是相对简单的事情 用电子控制来完成伺服回路 拟议 技术不仅应该适用于未来的望远镜， 正在建设中的望远镜，但也作为现有的改造， 亚毫米波望远镜