Wavefront sensor for millimeter/submillimeter-wave adaptive optics based on aperture-plane interferometry

TL;DR

This paper introduces a millimeter wavefront sensor utilizing aperture-plane interferometry for real-time surface measurement of large ground-based telescopes, aiding in adaptive optics correction for improved astronomical observations.

Contribution

It proposes a novel wavefront sensing method based on radio interferometry tailored for millimeter/submillimeter telescopes, enabling instant correction of optical deformations.

Findings

Concept demonstrated for real-time surface sensing

Applicable to 50-m class telescopes like LST and AtLAST

Enhances adaptive optics capabilities in millimeter astronomy

Abstract

We present a concept of a millimeter wavefront sensor that allows real-time sensing of the surface of a ground-based millimeter/submillimeter telescope. It is becoming important for ground-based millimeter/submillimeter astronomy to make telescopes larger with keeping their surface accurate. To establish `millimetric adaptive optics (MAO)' that instantaneously corrects the wavefront degradation induced by deformation of telescope optics, our wavefront sensor based on radio interferometry measures changes in excess path lengths from characteristic positions on the primary mirror surface to the focal plane. This plays a fundamental role in planned 50-m class submillimeter telescopes such as LST and AtLAST.