Deformable mirror-based optical design of dynamic local athermal longwave infrared optical systems. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shen, Benlan; Chang, Jun; Niu, Yajun; Chen, Weilin; Ji, Zhongye
• Is Part Of: Optics and lasers in engineering. Volume 106(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Local athermalisation -- LWIR optical system -- Deformable mirror -- Thermal aberrations; Lasers in engineering -- Periodicals; Optical measurements -- Periodicals; Optics -- Periodicals; Lasers en ingénierie -- Périodiques; Mesures optiques -- Périodiques; Optique -- Périodiques; 621.36605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlaseng.2018.02.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-8166

Abstract

Highlights: Dynamic local athermalisation of longwave infrared (LWIR) optical systems is proposed. The local athermal LWIR optical system is designed and analysed in software CODE V. The aberration characteristics of each local athermal FOV at −40 °C and 80 °C are analysed. Abstract: This paper presents a dynamic local athermalisation method for longwave infrared (LWIR) optical systems; the proposed design uses a deformable mirror and is based on active optics theory. A local athermal LWIR optical system is designed as an example. The deformable mirror is tilted by 45° near the exit pupil of the system. The thermal aberrations are corrected by the deformable mirror for the local athermal field of view (FOV) that ranges from −40 °C to 80 °C. The types of thermal aberrations are analysed. Simulated results show that the local athermal LWIR optical system can effectively detect targets in the region of interest within a large FOV and correct thermal aberrations in actual working environments in real time. The system has numerous potential applications in infrared detection and tracking, surveillance and remote sensing.