<title>Large holographically corrected space telescopes</title>

Abstract

The next generation optical space telescopes with apertures > 10 m for imaging, lidar, communications and directed energy focusing will be unable to use conventional technologies which are impractical or too costly. Our solution is to construct a telescope from a lightweight, low-quality primary, which is holographically corrected for surface distortions, in situ. This scheme makes it possible to correct for apertures of virtually unlimited size, over a narrow bandwidth, at optical and UV wavelengths. In this talk we present the first holographically corrected telescope ever constructed for astronomical imaging. We present evidence that a distant beacon, combined with a static holographic recording may be the most inexpensive and simplest approach. The design of the telescope also makes it possible to incorporate an adaptive optics correction system for compensation of longer-term mirror deformation/sag and thermal distortions.