Photonic synthesis of large aperture telescopes from multi-telescope arrays

摘要

The present invention provides a telescope array and related components and methods. In various embodiments, the telescope array may include a plurality of telescopes, each telescope associated with a focal plane package and a telescope control system configured to control the focus and tracking of the telescope, such that each telescope may be independently focused and pointed. The focal plane package may comprise an optical fiber feed configured to provide a an optical signal to an optical fiber; and a mirror array configured to provide two shifted simultaneous signals to an image capture device. The telescope array may further comprise at least one switchable multi-fiber coupler configured to couple the signals of at least some of the plurality of telescopes and an array control system in communication with each of the telescope control systems.