PbS and CCD Array Autocollimation Micrometers for the Infrared Meridian Circle

Abstract

A new infrared meridian instrument is being developed at Pulkovo Observatory. The main purpose of the instrument is to extend the fundamental coordinate system to the K-infrared waveband and to faint stars at visual and I-wavebands. The instrument has a 30-cm primary mirror made from astrositall. An intermediate focal plane is used to introduce luminous reference marks. One can obtain autocollimated images of the marks at the intermediate focal plane with the use of a polished chamber located around the central hole of the primary mirror. The secondary mirror of the telescope forms images of the marks and of their autocollimated counterparts and passes them to the plane of a photodetector (Fig. 1.). The luminous marks give a reference frame for the measurements. These measurements are not affected by displacements of any optical unit placed after the intermediate focal plane or by displacements of the detector. The measurements are done relative to the coordinates of the average between positions of the luminous mark and its autocollimated image. Any small constant difference between the center of curvature and the optical axis position can be determined in the laboratory.