Practical Beam Transport for the Planet Formation Imager (PFI)
arXiv:1608.00587 · doi:10.1117/12.2232382
Abstract
The Planet Formation Imager (PFI) is a future kilometric-baseline infrared interferometer to image the complex physical processes of planet formation. Technologies that could be used to transport starlight to a central beam-combining laboratory in PFI include free-space propagation in air or vacuum, and optical fibres. This paper addresses the design and cost issues associated with free-space propagation in vacuum pipes. The signal losses due to diffraction over long differential paths are evaluated, and conceptual beam transport designs employing pupil management to ameliorate these losses are presented and discussed.
11 pages, 10 figures, Proceedings of SPIE 2016