Optimal Sphere-Sensor Ratio Determination for Sapphire Microsphere-Enhanced SLS-lattice-II Sensors in Reflecting and Refracting Telescopes & Cameras

Microsphere lenses on top of a sensor increases the sensitivity and reduces noise signal ratio as determined in previous works. As the focal point on a sapphire sphere is on the surface tangential to a plane perpendicular to the original light source, a uniform, unidirectional source (such as a laser) collinear to the sphere and sensor would only require the sensor be sized according to spherical aberrations and sphere material. For sources such as a blackbody, the sensor size would need to be determined using not only the spherical aberrations, but conic aberrations, which in turn is dependent on the size and shape of the source. This paper discusses the optimal sphere-sensor ration found using simulations setup to emulate conditions found within cameras and telescopes, including one similar to the Hubble Space Telescope.