Anthony Monger

MONS space telescope, part 2: analysis of very high stray-light rejection

We develop new visualization and diagnostics techniques for the analysis of the mechanical causes of second-order scattered light, applying these to the stray-light analysis of the MONS space telescope, whose scientific aim is the measurement of low-amplitude photometric oscillations in stars. The telescope is designed to detect amplitudes of 1 part per million, requiring a high stray-light rejection factor, and is thus an ideal subject for this work. The analysis involved determining stray-light cases and then using an innovative approach to efficient high-order ray tracing to produce detailed predictions of the stray-light flux distributions. In addition to demonstrating the utility of the approaches developed here, the results of the analysis show that the MONS space telescope design meets the stray-light rejection requirements.

The i-INSPIRE Satellite - a university pico-satellite project.

The i-INSPIRE satellite is the result of a collaborative project at the University of Sydney, across the science and engineering faculties. The satellite is a compact tube-shaped pico-satellite with a mass of less than 0.75 kg. i-INSPIRE carries three science instruments - a photonic spectrograph, a radiation counter and an imaging camera, and will be launched to a 310km polar orbit in late 2012 or early 2013. Here we describe the satellite and its subsystems (including the science instruments and the communication system) as well as the ground station, pre-launch tests, and the proposed launch itself. i-INSPIRE will be Australias first fully university operated pico-satellite.

MONS space telescope, part 1: optical design analysis

MONS (Measuring Oscillations in Nearby Stars) is a 320-mm-aperture telescope designed as the primary payload of the proposed Danish Small Satellite Programs Romer mission. If launched, MONS would observe the oscillations in about 20 stars by means of highly sensitive photometric measurements of the relative blue and red signal levels, enabling new insights into the structure and evolution of solar-type stars. We describe the key aspects of the telescope design and analysis of the optical design.

Cleaning up the grid Solar thermal electricity development in Australia

Abstract The use of solar energy to run steam turbines for electricity production is examined in the Australian context, using new low concentration technology possibilities. Preliminary estimates show that suggested design improvements could result in busbar solar thermal electricity for US

Comparison of asymmetrical and symmetrical nonimaging reflectors for east-west circular cylindrical solar receivers

0.05-0.07/kWh over most of Australia. Such price and availability could make solar thermal technology highly competitive for new electricity supply, possibly before the year 2000. Off-grid markets in Australia and in developing countries could provide a useful and lucrative take off market for these technologies.

Thin film solar selective surface coating

A computer simulation of the relative performance of certain truncated symmetrical and asymmetrical fixed reflector designs for solar energy collection was performed. The major results were as follows: (1) Annual solar fractions in excess of 90% seems to be feasible with a fixed load matching collector, in a climate where 70% of hot water requirements is the norm from flat plate collectors. Consumer interaction could either improve or lower this figure, depending upon circumstances. (2) Symmetrical CPC reflectors always gave the best annual output performance per unit of mirror area, and allowed the lowest receiver area for situations of constant annual load. (3) Asymmetrical fixed concentrators are most cost-effective for seasonally asymmetrical load patterns. (4) Fixed parabolic systems were not competitive. (5) The concentration levels utilizable in fixed systems are much higher than previously supposed, with approximately 3.1:1 in an asymmetrical reflector being optimal for the domestic load pattern used. (6) With seasonal load matching, the storage required to achieve solar fractions above 90% appears to be approximately one day of typical load.