High accuracy image centroiding with a moving Ronchi ruling

Abstract

A moving Ronchi ruling at the focal plane of a telescope has been employed to measure the relative motions of stars with great accuracy. The method has long-term stability and exceptional linearity over a relatively large field-of-view. This measurement technique may prove useful in other applications where such capabilities are required. This paper employs Fourier optics to describe the operation of the device, explore performance at very long and very short periods, and consider ruling profiles and other means of optimizing performance.