A dichroic beam splitter for convergent beams

This paper describes a dichroic beam splitter design for convergent f/8 telescope beams with high throughput, excellent image quality and a large field of view. Ray tracing and laboratory tests demonstrate the workability of the concept. The beam splitter design is applicable in tip-tilt systems and multicolor imaging systems as well in the wavelength range from 360 nm to 1000 nm. Initial observations with a prototype of this new beam splitter design are planned in the second half of the year 2000 at the 1.3m telescope on Mt. Skinakas.