Challenges and Solutions of Free-Form Optics Design for Highly Performant Earth Observation Instruments in Space
- Paper number
IAC-18,B1,3,4,x43059
- Author
Dr. Michael Deiml, Germany, OHB System AG
- Coauthor
Mr. Jean-Baptiste Volatier, France, OHB System AG
- Coauthor
Mr. Patrick Tully Peacocke, Germany, OHB System AG
- Coauthor
Dr. Sebastian Fray, Germany, OHB System AG
- Coauthor
Dr. Andreas Stute, Germany, OHB System AG
- Coauthor
Mr. Markus Erhard, Germany, OHB System AG - Munich
- Year
2018
- Abstract
Cost-effective space borne Earth-observation instruments require small form factors while maintaining excellent optical performance. Freeform optical elements offer a solution to this challenge. Employing freeform optics has seen an increase in popularity with the advance of new manufacturing techniques. However, the design of freeform optical systems still poses challenges to optical engineers as off-the-shelf optical analysis and design software packages often reach their limits in optimizing such systems. OHB System AG has thus developed its own optimization algorithm that overcomes the limitations of commercial software packages by employing differential raytracing together with automatic differentiation. Our software is capable of optimizing refractive, diffractive, and reflective systems with an arbitrary number of surfaces and with full flexibility over all degrees of freedom. Superior optical designs can now be designed that use either less volume, are simpler to align, or exhibit an increase in performance compared to their reference systems. This contribution will introduce the concepts of our algorithm, followed by the discussion of exemplary Earth-observation instrument concepts that use freeform elements. A summary describing the benefits of freeform optical systems for Earth observation instruments concludes this contribution.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-18,B1,3,4,x43059.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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