Mirror Synchronization Unit for Separation of Optical Channels of the TPL-1 Telescope

The satellite laser ranging method is based on measuring the transit time of a laser pulse from the transmitter to the satellite and back to the receiver. A special feature of the TPL telescope is that the laser signal is transmitted and received by the same telescope. This requires auxiliary equipment to separate these signals. In addition, this telescope is also used for visual tracking of the object, which adds complexity to the optical design. In most cases, the signals are separated mechanically using rotating mirrors. In one position, the mirrors transmit the signal to a specific channel, and they reflect the optical signal into another channel in the other position. The rotational speed of the mirrors corresponds to the frequency of the laser transmitter. Both mirrors rotate at the same frequency but with a different phase. A logic circuit built on two D-triggers and one 2-input NAND element is used as a phase detector. The paper discusses the scheme and principle of operation of the device for mirror synchronization by signals of the control computer and mirror position sensors. This device has been successfully used at the Riga-1884 laser location station of the University of Latvia.