Telescope system and method

A series tailored a thermally stabilized optical (STASO) telescope system (STASOS) comprising:

• (a) optical mirror source (OMS);
• (b) optical focal target (OFT);
• (c) first metering rod (FMR);
• (d) second metering rod (SMR);
• and
• (e) third metering rod (TMR);
• wherein:
• said OMS comprises a mirror reference surface (MRS) perpendicular to an optical axis of said OMS;
• said OFT comprises a focal reference plane (FRP) aligned to an optical axis of said OFT;
• said FMR, said SMR and said TMR each comprise a first retaining rod (FRR) comprised of a material having a first thermal expansion (FTE) coefficient;
• said FMR, said SMR and said TMR each comprise a second retaining rod (SRR) comprised of a material having a second thermal expansion (STE) coefficient;
• said FMR, said SMR and said TMR are aligned parallel to said optical axis of said OMS;
• said FMR, said SMR and said TMR are configured to align said OMS and OFT along a common optical axis (COA);
• said FMR, said SMR and said TMR are configured to separate said OMS and said OFT along said COA and define a predetermined focal distance (PFD) between said MRS and said FRP;
• said FRR is constructed from a thermalized metallic material (TMM) selected to produce in combination with said SRR a thermally neutral or controlled optical (TNO) variation in said PFD;
• said TMM is constructed by deforming a metallic material by applying tension in a first direction;
• said TMM, subsequent to said deformation, exhibits a first thermal expansion characteristic having a coefficient of thermal expansion within a predetermined range;
• said coefficient of thermal expansion is in at least said first direction;
• and
• said TMM, subsequent to said deformation, exhibits a second thermal expansion characteristic in a second direction;
• and
• wherein said TMM comprises a material selected from a group consisting of:
• (1) a material characterized by a general formula Ti100-AXA, wherein X is at least one of Ni, Nb, Mo, Ta, Pd, Pt, or combinations thereof, and A is in a range from 0 to 75 atomic percent composition;
• (2) a material characterized by a general formula Ti100-A-BNiAXB, wherein X is at least one of Pd, Hf, Zr, Al, Pt, Au, Fe, Co, Cr, Mo, V, O or combinations thereof, and A is in a range from 0 to 55 atomic percent composition, and B is in a range from 0 to 75 atomic percent composition such that A plus B is less than 100;
• (3) a material characterized by a general formula Ti100-A-BNbAXB, wherein X is at least one of Al, Sn, Ta, Hf, Zr, Al, Au, Pt, Fe, Co, Cr, Mo, V, 0, or combinations thereof, and A is in a range from 0 to 55 atomic percent composition, and B is in a range from 0 to 75 atomic percent composition such that A plus B is less than 100;
• and
• (4) a material characterized by a general formula Ti100-A-BTaAXB, wherein X is at least one of Al, Sn, Nb, Zr, Mo, Al, Au, Pt, Fe, Co, Cr, Hf, V, 0, or combinations thereof, and A is in a range from 0 to 55 atomic percent composition, and B is in a range from 0 to 75 atomic percent composition such that A plus B is less than 100.