Ultra-light weight telescope coupled with portable AO system for laser communications applications

摘要

In this paper we present some preliminary results of an ultra-light weight telescope manufactured entirely with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), including the optics, coupled with a light weight Adaptive Optics (AO) system. This research has many scopes, ranging from long baseline interferometry to laser communications. In this paper we will examine some of the mechanical properties of the telescope and describe the testing that the system is undergoing.