Modern Astronomical Optics

Spring 2014

Letures and additional material for the course "Modern Astronomical Optics" (offered to graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Arizona)

Lectures prepared by Olivier Guyon, James Breckinridge, Jim Burge, Phil Hinz and Hubert Martin
Spring 2014 semester

This course provides an overview of astronomical optical systems for astronomy. It introduces astronomical and optical concepts related to exoplanets observations. By focusing on a particularly challenging observational problem of modern astronomy, the course will teach design and analysis of high precision optical systems and measurement techniques for astronomy, including spectroscopy, photometry, optical metrology and interferometry. Design and fabrication of both ground-based and space-based astronomical observatories and instruments will be discussed.

The course consists of lectures and team projects. For each of the four team projects during the semester, astronomy and optics students will work together to design a mission/telescope/instrument for astronomy, using material presented during the lectures. Each team projects will result in an oral presentation.

Lectures

1. Course introduction, Fundamentals of astronomical imaging systems [Guyon]

This part of the course serves as an introduction to the course, and introduces fundamental concepts of astronomy and optics which will be explored in more details during the rest of the course. Connect astronomy to telescope and instrument requirements. Introduction of units used for astronomy and how they relate to radiometric quantities.