Design Examples of Tilted-Component Telescopes (TCT's) (A Class of Unobscured Reflectors)

Abstract

A tilted component telescope (TCT) is one that features no obstructions in the light path yet is appreciably simpler to build than conventional off -axis instruments. The principles of TCT design are applicable to scanning and image-stabilized optics and should allow improvements in that field. The author has collected and computer-evaluated designs representative of existing art: Schiefspiegler, Yolo, catadioptric Herschelian, and Schupmann. It is expected that these evaluations will enable optical scientists to appraise the merits of the TCT approach and will stimulate the development of second -generation designs.