Analysis and calibration of precision for point source transmittance system

Abstract

Owing to space optical system working for a long time outside the field of view, where there is strong background radiation, and the fact that the point source transmittance (PST) is an important evaluation indicator for stray light suppression of this optical system, the development of stray light equipment for testing PST has received more and more attention. Though the development of PST testing system has been extensively studied, none of them elaborate on the calibration of the PST testing system. Besides, most of the PST testing systems are at a laboratory research stage, and the calibration of neither testing stability nor accuracy is recognized. Therefore, on the basis of the PST testing system established, one calibration lens is designed to calibrate the PST testing system. By comparing the measured PST values of the calibration lens with the analyzed values, the PST testing system can be evaluated. The calibration lens model is built to analyze PST values at different off-axis angles by using the ray tracing software Tracepro. We consider the accuracy of modeling, and on the basis of simplifying the structure design, we measure bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) values of the painted surface of the calibration lens, and then estimate values of lens surface from Harvey-Shack model and PSD theory by taking these property data into the model of simulation. Ultimately PST analyzed values of calibration lens can be obtained. Finally, by comparing the measured values of calibration lens, which are tested by using PST testing system, with the analyzed values, the calibration of the PST testing system is completed. In the PST testing process of calibration lens, by analyzing the data at different off-axis angles, the accuracy of repeated measurements and threshold of PST testing system can be obtained. At the same time, testing errors caused by the stability of light source, detector linearity, air scattering and structure of double cylindrical chamber are analyzed through the testing data. The data show that when double cylindrical chamber clean class is ISO7, the PST threshold of this equipment is 10-8, and the accuracy of repeated measurements is 7.9%. Taking into account the detection capability, the PST threshold of this equipment is 10-10 when environmental condition is better than ISO6.