Space-based gravitational-wave observatories will systematically study the source-rich band of gravitational waves from 0.0001 Hz to 1 Hz. All current designs require propagation of a laser beam from one spacecraft to another over immense distances. An optical telescope is needed for efficient power delivery and its design is driven by the interferometric displacement sensitivity requirements. Here we describe the design for a catoptric telescope that meets those requirements, emphasizing differences from the usual specifications for high quality image formation, and discuss design trade-offs as well as early results from research into scattered light suppression and modeling that may enable alternative designs.

Date Published: 2 August 2014
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 9143, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 914314 (2 August 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2056824

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9143:
Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave
Jacobus M. Oschmann Jr.; Mark Clampin; Giovanni G. Fazio; Howard A. MacEwen, Editor(s)