Optical very large array (OVLA) prototype telescope: status report and perspective for large mosaic mirrors

Julien Dejonghe; Luc Arnold; Olivier Lardiere; Jean-Pierre Berger; Claude Cazale; S. Dutertre; Dominique Kohler; D. Vernet

doi:10.1117/12.319241

25 August 1998 Optical very large array (OVLA) prototype telescope: status report and perspective for large mosaic mirrors

Julien Dejonghe, Luc Arnold, Olivier Lardiere, Jean-Pierre Berger, Claude Cazale, S. Dutertre, Dominique Kohler, D. Vernet

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3352, Advanced Technology Optical/IR Telescopes VI; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.319241
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

The OVLA will be a kilometric-size interferometric array of N equals 27 or more 1.5 m telescopes. It is expected to provide visible to infra-red snap-shot images, containing in densified pupil mode N² 10^-4 arc-second wide resolved elements in yellow light. The prototype telescope is under construction at Observatoire de Haute Provence and will be connected in 2000 to the GI2T, Grand Interferometre a 2 Telescopes, thus upgraded to a GI3T. The prototype telescope has a spherical mount, well suited for multi- aperture interferometric work, and a thin active 1.5 m f/1.7 mirror weighting only 180 kg with the active cell. This meniscus-shaped mirror, made of low-cost ordinary window glass, is only 24 mm thick and supported by 32 actuators. We describe the telescope optical concept with emphasis on opto-mechanical aspects and the test results of the active optics system. We also discuss the application of this mirror concept to large mosaic mirrors of moderate cost.

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Julien Dejonghe, Luc Arnold, Olivier Lardiere, Jean-Pierre Berger, Claude Cazale, S. Dutertre, Dominique Kohler, and D. Vernet "Optical very large array (OVLA) prototype telescope: status report and perspective for large mosaic mirrors", Proc. SPIE 3352, Advanced Technology Optical/IR Telescopes VI, (25 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.319241

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