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M. Lampton, C. Akerlof, G. Aldering, D. Amidei, P. Astier, A. Baden, C. Bebek, L. Bergstrom, G. Bernstein, M. Campbell, W. Carithers, E. Commins, D. Curtis, S. Deustua, W. Edwards, R. Ellis, A. Fruchter, B. Frye, J.F. Genat, G. Goldhaber, A. Goobar, J. Goodman, J. Graham, D. Hardin, S. Harris, P. Harvey, H. Heetderks, S. Holland, I. Hook, D. Huterer, D. Kasen, A. Kim, R. Knop, R. Lafever, M. Levi, D. Levin, J-M. Levy, C. Lidman, R. Lin, E. Linder, S. Loken, T. McKay, S. McKee, M. Metzger, R. Miquel, A. Mourao, P. Nugent, R. Pain, D. Pankow, C. Pennypacker, S. Perlmutter, A. Refregier, J. Rich, K. Robinson, K. Schahmaneche, M. Schubnell, A. Spadafora, G. Smoot, G. Sullivan, G. Tarle, A. Tomasach (SNAP Callaboration)
The SuperNova/Acceleration Probe (SNAP) mission requires a two-meter class telescope that offers coverage of a one square degree field of view with diffraction limited imaging performance in the near IR band. This requirement, equivalent to a billion pixels, places unprecedented demands on its optical system in terms of field flatness, image quality, and freedom from chromatic aberration. We discuss the advantages of annular-field three-mirror anastigmat (TMA) telescopes for applications such as SNAP, and describe the features of the specific optical configuration that we have baselined for the SNAP mission. We present the parametric constraints on all TMAs and show how the adopted baseline optic satisfies these constraints. Then we present detailed ray trace calculations that demonstrate the point spread functions that are expected to be achieved for the nominal design and for a few off-nominal alignment cases, and summarize the tolerances that are allowed in manufacture and optical alignment. Finally we discuss the materials and manufacturing processes that are presently being considered for the fabrication and test of the SNAP Optical Telescope Assembly.
This research has been supported in part by the U.S.Department of Energy/Office of High Energy Physics.