Previous holography runs are summarized for 1998, 1997 and 1995.
Here we present log entries and representative holography maps. Each map covers the range of surface errors shown (early maps are of +/- 50 microns only). The total size of the maps (in pixels) is also given. The holography maps are made by measuring the signal from LES-9 as the telescope is scanned in a raster pattern. Along a raster line the telescope is scanned at a constant rate in either the azimuth direction or the elevation direction. In principle, the direction of the raster lines should be immaterial. There was no noticeable difference between the two kinds of maps in past years. Our maps this year were made in azimuth.
There are 3 rings. The center ring has 12 panels and the outer two rings have 24 each. Each panel has several positions around the edge or in the middle where it can be adjusted. The goal is to adjust the panels so that the RMS deviations from a perfect surface are less than 15 microns.
There is a quadrapod that supports a secondary reflector. It casts a shadow along diagonal lines. We get no information about panel positions here, but they don't matter since the light that hits them strikes the quadrapod legs. The legs also produce diffraction lines parallel to them that confuse the measurement. We have blanked out the shadowed region plus about an additional foot on either side in the maps below.
The accuracy of the maps depend upon the accuracy with which one can measure the phase of the radio waves entering the feed horn of the holography receiver. The feed horn introduces phase shifts that mimic misalignments of the telescope panels. We first correct the maps for these phase shifts. An improved measurement of the phase shift due to the horn was made this summer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. The new measurement corrected some phase errors that caused some panels to be misaligned by 5-10 microns in 1998.
We present below a sample of our averaged maps to illustrate how the the holography results changed with time and panel adjustments.
Created: 09/28/00
Last Changed: 10/03/00
contact: hbutner@as.arizona.edu