[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Author Index][Thread Index]

ATM - Computing Vignetting



I am writing a program to compute the vignetting caused by various apertures and central obstructions, and I don't know a good way to do it.   So far, I am using crude hit or miss monte carlo with eight bins to reduce the variance, but there must be a better way.
 
Every other method I have considered requires that the region to be integrated have no holes.  Because of the central obstruction, I have a hole in the region, and the region is not convex.
 
The program runs on a Palm under Hotpaw basic.  It allows for two obstructions (tube rim and diagonal central obstruction) in the parallel part of the light beam, and two more (diagonal and focuser rim) in the conical section of the light path.   I am working on a version that will identify the worst offending light obstructor.
 
Ultimately, I woudl like to post the program on my web page.   I think there are a lot of Palm users out there, but too few of them are developing telescope engineering applications.
 
. . . Richard