OPTICAL SENSOR FOR SURFACE PROFILE MONITORING OF PARABOLIC ANTENNA FOR MILLIMETER AND SUBMILLIMETER ASTRONOMY

• Main Authors: D. L. Chechetkin, I. P. Belyankin, V. V. Silin, S. I. Slavgorodskiy, V. M. Shulga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Institute of Radio Astronomy 2016-06-01
• Series: Radio Physics and Radio Astronomy
• Subjects: optical sensor; profile measurement; parabolic antenna; submillimeter antenna
• Online Access: http://rpra-journal.org.ua/index.php/ra/article/view/1239/874

Purpose: developing the sensor for non-contact measurement and profiling parabolic surfaces of antenna systems in the millimeter and submillimeter range with an aperture diameter up to 2 m. Design/methodology/approach: Using a high-speed CCD and photoelectric displacement transducer for determining position of light spot on the antenna surface. Findings: The experimental data show that the designed sensor provides RMS estimation accuracy for the antenna surface better than 15 microns. Conclusions: Used is the optical sensor for antenna surface measurements avoids surface damage and need to control contact sensor pressure on the measured surface.