Abstract: A telescope system may facilitate the capture of images of light, and may have a housing, a primary mirror, a Schmidt corrector plate, and a lens group. The housing may have a mirror end and an aperture end with an entrance aperture that receives the light. The primary mirror may be positioned proximate the mirror end, and may have a spherical shape. The Schmidt corrector plate may be positioned proximate the entrance aperture to direct the light toward the primary mirror in a manner that substantially compensates for the spherical shape. The lens group may include multiple lenses, one or more of which may be positioned within the housing proximate the aperture end such that the light is directed through the lens group by the primary mirror. The lens group may focus the light at a focal location further than the Schmidt corrector plate from the primary mirror.

Abstract: A telescope system may facilitate the capture of images of light, and may have a housing, a primary mirror, a Schmidt corrector plate, and a lens group. The housing may have a mirror end and an aperture end with an entrance aperture that receives the light. The primary mirror may be positioned proximate the mirror end, and may have a spherical shape. The Schmidt corrector plate may be positioned proximate the entrance aperture to direct the light toward the primary mirror in a manner that substantially compensates for the spherical shape. The lens group may include multiple lenses, one or more of which may be positioned within the housing proximate the aperture end such that the light is directed through the lens group by the primary mirror. The lens group may focus the light at a focal location further than the Schmidt corrector plate from the primary mirror.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a structure function monitor provide for generation of parameters characterizing a refractive medium. In an embodiment, a structure function monitor acquires images of a pupil plane and an image plane and, from these images, retrieves the phase over an aperture, unwraps the retrieved phase, and analyzes the unwrapped retrieved phase. In an embodiment, analysis yields atmospheric parameters measured at spatial scales from zero to the diameter of a telescope used to collect light from a source.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for surface layer atmospheric turbulence differential image motion measurement provide the ability to measure and characterize the atmospheric turbulence in a surface boundary layer with applications to a wide variety of technical areas including, but not limited to, astronomy and atmospheric conditions for take-off and landing at airports. Methods and apparatus include multiple optical sources and a receiver having sub-apertures for detecting light traveling along independent paths from the optical sources to the sub-apertures. The sub-apertures of the receiver are arranged, including relative spacing, to match the geometric arrangement of the multiple optical sources, where there is one sub-aperture for each optical source. Appropriate images received by the sub-apertures are analyzed using differential image motion measurement techniques.

Abstract: A scatterometer utilizes the dead zone resulting from lockup caused by scatter from a sample located in the optical path of a ring laser at a location where counter-rotating pulses cross. The frequency of one pulse relative to the other is varied across the lockup dead zone.