Analysis of nulling phase functions suitable to image plane coronagraphy

François Hénault; Alexis Carlotti; Christophe Vérinaud

doi:10.1117/12.2231188

22 July 2016 Analysis of nulling phase functions suitable to image plane coronagraphy

François Hénault, Alexis Carlotti, Christophe Vérinaud

Proceedings Volume 9912, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II; 99126K (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231188
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

Coronagraphy is a very efficient technique for identifying and characterizing extra-solar planets orbiting in the habitable zone of their parent star, especially in a space environment. An important family of coronagraphs is actually based on phase plates located at an intermediate image plane of the optical system, and spreading the starlight outside the "Lyot" exit pupil plane of the instrument. In this commutation we present a set of candidate phase functions generating a central null at the Lyot plane, and study how it propagates to the image plane of the coronagraph. These functions include linear azimuthal phase ramps (the well-known optical vortex), azimuthally cosine-modulated phase profiles, and circular phase gratings. Nnumerical simulations of the expected null depth, inner working angle, sensitivity to pointing errors, effect of central obscuration located at the pupil or image planes, and effective throughput including image mask and Lyot stop transmissions are presented and discussed. The preliminary conclusion is that azimuthal cosine functions appear as an interesting alternative to the classical optical vortex of integer topological charge.

Citation Download Citation

François Hénault, Alexis Carlotti, and Christophe Vérinaud "Analysis of nulling phase functions suitable to image plane coronagraphy", Proc. SPIE 9912, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation II, 99126K (22 July 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2231188

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