Mock Observations for the CSST Mission: End-to-end Performance Modeling of Optical System
Zhang Ban, Xiao‐Bo Li, Xun Yang, Yuxi Jiang, Hongcai Ma, Wei Wang, Jinguang Lv, Cheng-Liang Wei, Guoliang Li, Guo-Liang Li, Chao Liu, Nan Li, Ran Li, Peng Wei
Abstract
Abstract This study presents a comprehensive end-to-end simulation analysis of the optical imaging performance of the Chinese Space Station Survey Telescope (CSST) under in-orbit conditions. An integrated system model incorporating five static and two dynamic error sub-models was established. Wave front errors were calculated for each sub-model and compared to the integrated system error to quantify the individual contributions to image degradation. At the detector level, wave front error, point-spread function (PSF), and ellipticity were evaluated across the full field of view (FOV). The average radius of 80% encircled energy (REE80) of the PSF under full-error conditions was determined for 25 field points, yielding a value of 0 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mover> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>.</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>″</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:mover> </mml:math> 114. Furthermore, the calculations indicate a correlation between the wave front distribution and the ellipticity distribution within the optical system. By optimizing the wave front distribution, it is possible to adjust the ellipticity distribution of the PSF across the full FOV. The end-to-end simulation approach adopted in this paper provides a theoretical foundation for improving the image quality in large-aperture, off-axis space telescopes.