Byrne, Adam
(2017)
Design and Analysis of Telescope
Receiver Systems for Future
Far-Infrared Missions.
Masters thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.
Abstract
The main topic of this thesis is the design and analysis of the Cosmic ORigins
Explorer (CORE) telescope, a proposed mission for the ESA M5 mission call.
Its focus was the study of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), particularly
its polarisation. An ambitious space mission, it would endeavour to detect
elusive primordial B-modes. B-modes are considered the key piece of evidence
for inflation theory and require extraordinary sensitivity to detect. CORE would
house up to 2100 detectors on its large, super-cooled focal plane; granting the
high sensitivity and wide field of view (FOV) required for CMB study but leads
to challenging optical design. Maynooth’s role was to examine telescope designs
capable of delivering diffraction-limited quality field of view over this 50 cm focal
plane area. Two telescope designs (Offset Gregorian and Offset Dragonian) were
analysed. The import and export of the mirrors with correct surface definition
and orientation form a central part of this work. Physical optics analysis program
GRASP was used to simulate beams on the sky from various focal plane
positions to verify the positioning of different frequency detectors over the focal
plane. This work would form a part of the CORE proposal.
In addition, analysis was carried out on the receiver of the Large Latin American
Millimetre Array (LLAMA) telescope, currently under construction in Argentina.
Based on existing Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA)
telescope designs, LLAMA is an independent instrument that will be able to study
a large array of astronomical phenomenon at millimetre wavelengths. Eventually
it plans to form the first South American Very Long Baseline Interferometer
(VLBI) array alongside ALMA and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX).
The Department of Experimental Physics was asked to perform analysis using
three frequency bands on the Nasmyth B receiver of the telescope and the author
was given the task.
Item Type: |
Thesis
(Masters)
|
Keywords: |
Design; Analysis; Telescope Receiver Systems; Future
Far-Infrared Missions; |
Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Experimental Physics |
Item ID: |
9908 |
Depositing User: |
IR eTheses
|
Date Deposited: |
11 Sep 2018 15:14 |
URI: |
|
Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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