Influence of ambient temperature on the modulation transfer function of an infrared membrane diffraction optical system.

In this paper, we present a model that analyzes the influence of the temperature on the modulation transfer function (MTF) of an infrared membrane diffraction optical system. Based on the physical imaging mechanism of diffractive optical systems, the imaging characteristics of the diffraction optical system are characterized by using diffraction efficiency. Then we establish the corresponding calculation model and MTF analysis model based on scalar diffraction theory. In particular, considering the material properties of flexible membrane optical elements and thermal environment effect, the Zernike polynomials are used to establish the thickness distribution model of the membrane diffractive optical components combined with the finite element analysis. After that, we modify the MTF calculation model of diffraction optical system and accordingly propose the model of the infrared membrane diffraction optical system. Finally, we present some experimental results for a 2-m infrared membrane diffraction optical system. The results show that when the temperature is -40 degrees C and wavelength band is 80 nm at the center field of view, the diffraction efficiency is reduced to 81%, and MTF at 751 p/mm is reduced to 0.12. And when the temperature is -40 degrees C at edge field of view, the efficiency at center wavelength is reduced to 71%, and MTF at 751 p/mm is reduced to 0.02. The established model and method can be used to estimate the imaging performance of a space infrared membrane diffractive telescope and provide theoretical guidance for the processing algorithm and imaging system design. (C) 2018 Optical Society of America