Mirror Alignment Using Dual Beam Laser Vinya Agluba Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Submillimeter Array Research Supervisor: Rob Christensen Home Institution: University of Hawaii - Manoa
Overview Antenna Optics Layout Importance of Mirror Alignment Aligning the Mirrors Conclusion
Antenna Optics Layout Figure 1
Antenna Optics Layout Figure 2
Importance of Mirror Alignment Achieve Maximum Efficiency Align Mirrors Reduce Losses -due to: beam truncation, distortion at focusing mirrors, and absorption and reflection at windows and mirrors 230GHz – 0.7-0.8 345GHz – 0.55-0.65 690GHz – 0.4
Aligning the Mirrors Figure 3
Aligning the Mirrors M5 M4 170mm Figure 4
Problem - Solution Figure 5
Problem - Solution Figure 6
XAWTV
First Trial
First Trial Elevation: 70° 20° 40°
DS9
Second Trial
Second Trial Elevation: 65° 85° 55° 75° 35° 15° 25° 45°
Second Trial
Targets 170mm
Conclusion Align mirrors using dual beam laser Use targets to ensure the 170mm height
Acknowledgments Rob Christensen & Ant Schinckel SMA Staff CfAO University of Hawaii - Manoa Funding provided through the Center for Adaptive Optics, a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center (STC), AST-987683.