Ray-tracing for coordinate knowledge in the JWST Integrated Science Instrument Module
Derek Sabatke, Joseph Sullivan, Scott Rohrbach, David Kubalak

TL;DR
This paper details the use of a matrix/vector ray tracing system for optical alignment, testing, and coordinate knowledge in the JWST's Integrated Science Instrument Module, demonstrating its practical application in optical engineering.
Contribution
It introduces a comprehensive ray tracing system that supports optical alignment, testing, and coordinate determination for the JWST instrument module, with a focus on real-system measurement and analysis.
Findings
Successful implementation of the ray tracing system in experimental data
Demonstrated capability for in situ monitoring of optical parameters
Validated the mathematical basis of the matrix/vector ray tracing model
Abstract
Optical alignment and testing of the Integrated Science Instrument Module of the James Webb Space Telescope is underway. We describe the Optical Telescope Element Simulator used to feed the science instruments with point images of precisely known location and chief ray pointing, at appropriate wavelengths and flux levels, in vacuum and at operating temperature. The simulator's capabilities include a number of devices for in situ monitoring of source flux, wavefront error, pupil illumination, image position and chief ray angle. Taken together, these functions become a fascinating example of how the first order properties and constructs of an optical design (coordinate systems, image surface and pupil location) acquire measurable meaning in a real system. We illustrate these functions with experimental data, and describe the ray tracing system used to provide both pointing control during…
Peer Reviews
No public reviews on file for this paper yet. If you reviewed it on a platform where reviews are public (OpenReview, ICLR, NeurIPS, ICML), you can paste yours below so the community can read it here.
Videos
No videos yet. Explain this paper in a talk, walkthrough, or lecture? Add one.
