Converting PETAL, the 25 m solar collector, into an astronomical research facility

Erez N. Ribak, Ari Laor, David Faiman, Sergei Biryukov, Noah Brosch

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

We propose to modify the solar collector PETAL (Photon Energy Transformation & Astrophysics Laboratory) for astronomy. The mirror is a segmented parabolic dish collector, which has a relatively poor imaging quality. The conversion can be done by either of two principal methods: (1) phasing the surface of the collector itself or significant sections thereof: (2) transforming the structure into an optical interferometer by mounting small telescopes around its rim, and using fibre optics to combine the light at a common focus.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1031-1036
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume4838
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2002
EventInterferometry for Optical Astronomy II - Waikoloa, HI, United States
Duration: 22 Aug 200228 Aug 2002

Keywords

  • Astronomical interferometers
  • Large telescopes
  • Solar collectors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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