Study on the optics of the 5 meter Dome A Terahertz Explorer (DATE5) for Antarctica

The 5 m Dome A Terahertz Explorer (DATE5) is a proposed terahertz telescope to be deployed in Dome A, Antarctica, to exploit one of the best observing conditions at terahertz bands on the earth. This paper presents a study on the optics of the proposed DATE5 antenna. Two configurations, namely the Cassegrain and the Coudé configurations, are proposed and their respective optical performances, such as field of view, beam and aperture efficiency, and chopping performance, are simulated and compared. Some engineering considerations, such as system reliability and environmental adaptability are also discussed.