Multi-channel telescope can provide more than one wave band for remote sensing and then improve the efficiency of the telescope. But it will increase the weight and bulk especially when correcting the aberrations with lenses which caused by the oblique plane parallel plates splitters. It is a good method to correct the aberrations with free-form surface while there is no lens to take up large space or to increase the weight. Free-form surface splitters were introduced in an F/3 off-axis TMA telescope with FOV 4.4°×0.2°, four channels such as visual, near wave infrared, short wave infrared and middle wave infrared channels. The image quality is near the diffraction limit in each channel.

Date Published: 16 October 2012
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 8416, 6th International Symposium on Advanced Optical Manufacturing and Testing Technologies: Advanced Optical Manufacturing Technologies, 84161H (16 October 2012); doi: 10.1117/12.977337

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8416:
6th International Symposium on Advanced Optical Manufacturing and Testing Technologies: Advanced Optical Manufacturing Technologies
Li Yang; Eric Ruch; Shengyi Li, Editor(s)