Method for aligning an optical system utilizing focal plane image intensity data

摘要

A complex optical system may be maintained in alignment by means of a technique in which an analytical model of the system is utilized which is assumed to be capable of essentially optimal performance. A physical example of the same system design is then assembled and a plurality of performance characteristics are measured related to the intensity function associated with a point source image on the system's focal plane detector array. A plurality of specific adjustments are then calculated by means of a second order approximation technique which would have the effect of degrading the performance of the analytical model to equal that measured for the physical example, whereupon compensating physical adjustments are made to the physical example to improve its measured performance.