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Architecture: Overview

Beam Path
CAD Design
Optical Bench Photos

Beam Path

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Schematic diagram of ShaneAO beam path.

The beam path from the Shane telescope is as follows:

  1. Folding mirror (Fold 1 Rx, Fold 1 Ry).
  2. Deployable/retractable: Calibration stage (Cal X, Cal Y).
  3. Fixed off-axis parabola 1 (OAP1).
  4. ALPAO deformable (woofer) mirror.
  5. Fixed off-axis parabola 2 (OAP2).
  6. Tip-Tilt dichroic (splitter) or mirror (TT Dichroic).
    • If tip-tilt (splitter) selected, some fraction of visible light is relayed via a fixed periscope and tip-tilt filter wheel to the tip-tilt camera, mounted on an x-y stage (TT Cam X, TT Cam Y).
  7. Fixed off-axis parabola 3 (OAP3)
  8. MEMS deformable (tweeter) mirror.
  9. Wave Front Sensor dichroic directs visible wavelengths to Wave Front sensor(s) via:
    • Steering mirrors (WFS steer 1 Rx, WFS steer 1 Ry, WFS steer 2 Rx, WFS steer 2 Rx).
    • Lenslet array (Lenslet).
    • Focussing mechanism (WFS focus.
  10. Infra-red wavelengths continue to fixed, off-axis parabola 4 (OAP4).
  11. Fixed flat mirror.
  12. ShARCS entrance aperture. Within the cryogenic part of ShARCS are 3 mechanical systems:
    • Filter Wheel 1 (Filter #1).
    • Filter Wheel 2 (Filter #2).
    • Aperture Wheel (Aperture).

CAD Design

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CAD diagram of ShaneAO optical bench.

Optical Bench Photos

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View of the ShaneAO optical bench from side. The horizontal black structure, part of the support frame, obscures the view of some components (e.g. OAP1). Credit: P. Lynam 2018-11-10. NOTE: The WFS assembly in the lower-left portion is the pre-2019/2020 upgrade version.

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Alternate view of the ShaneAO optical bench from side. Credit: P. Lynam 2018-11-10.

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View of the ShaneAO optical bench from above. Credit: P. Lynam 2018-11-10.

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View of the ShaneAO Wave Front Sensor stage upgraded 2019/2020. Credit: P. Lynam 2020-11-18.

Change Log:

2020-11-18: Added upgraded WFS stage.
2018-11-26: First version.

This document last updated (UTC): Tuesday 04 March 2025