Abstract:
All-reflective coronagraph optical system for continuously imaging a wide field of view. The system can comprise a fore-optics assembly comprising a plurality of mirrors that reflect light rays, about a wide field of view centered around the Sun, to an aft-optics assembly that reflects the light rays to an image sensor. A fold mirror, having an aperture, is optically supported between the fore-optics assembly and the aft-optics assembly. The aperture defines an angular subtense sized larger than the angular subtense of the Sun, and facilitates passage of a direct solar image and a solar thermal load. A thermal control subsystem comprises a shroud radiatively coupled to each fore-optics mirror and the fold mirror. A cold radiator is thermally coupled to each shroud. Heaters adjacent fore optics mirrors and the fold mirror control temperature to provide a steady state optical system to minimize wavefront error.
Abstract:
An apparatus includes a four-braid resistive heater (100, 200), which includes a conductive structure (104, 204) configured to transport electrical currents and to generate heat based on the electrical currents. The conductive structure has first, second, third, and fourth electrical conductors (106-112, 210-212). The first and second electrical conductors are looped around each other along a length of the conductive structure. The third and fourth electrical conductors are looped around each other along the length of the conductive structure. Loops formed with the first and second conductors are interleaved with loops formed with the third and fourth conductors along the length of the conductive structure. The first and third electrical conductors can be electrically coupled together, and the second and fourth electrical conductors can be electrically coupled together.
Abstract:
A system for synchronizing a first clock and a second clock includes a receiver associated with the first clock, configured to receive a remote optical pulse from the second clock. The remote optical pulse has a pulse repetition frequency and spectral characteristics that are known to the local clock. The system also includes a local optical pulse emitter configured to create a local optical pulse at the first clock, and optics configured to align the local optical pulse and the remote optical pulse. The system further includes an interferometer configured to create an interference pattern between the local optical pulse and the remote optical pulse. A controller is provided that is configured to calculate a time delay between the first clock and the second clock based on the interference pattern between the local optical pulse and the remote optical pulse.