Defocus grating systems for optical alignment

We present the results of designing and fabricating distorted diffraction gratings which allow us to map multiple objects, placed along the optical axis of such grating based systems, onto a single image plane. We plan to use the gratings in the alignment of a long optical train, with the intention of simulating part of the beam transport system of a long baseline optical interferometer. The objective is to produce a simple system that will allow for the automatic alignment of the long optical trains within complex systems, such as the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer.