Optimization of polarization balance in beam splitter films for weak star simulator

Abstract

In the weak star simulator, the background stray light of the self-excited star image and the simulated target star light are mixed with each other, which is difficult to separate and reduces the simulation accuracy of the star position. Therefore, based on the polarized light tracing method, this paper explores the induction mechanism of the polarization effect of the weak star simulator on the background stray light field of the star map, and proposes a polarization balance optimization method for the beam splitter film. At the same time, the mapping model of star position simulation accuracy, polarization parameters of beam splitter and polarization stray light suppression degree is established. Based on this evaluation function, the polarization balance optimization process of beam splitter is constructed to reduce the influence of polarization effect of beam splitter on the background stray light field of star image. The simulation and experimental results show that the stray light suppression ability of the weak star simulator is improved by 2.1 times and the simulation accuracy of the star position is improved by 1.64 times after the polarization balance optimization of the beam splitter film.