Work

Eighth‐Order Image Masks for Terrestrial Planet Finding

Year: 2005

Type: article

Abstract: We describe a new series of band-limited image masks for coronagraphy that are insensitive to tip-tilt errors and other low spatial frequency optical aberrations. For a modest cost in throughput, these "eighth-order" masks would allow the Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph ( TPF-C ) to operate with a pointing accuracy no better than that of the Hubble Space Telescope . We also provide eighth-order notch filter masks that offer the same robustness to pointing errors combined with more manageable construction tolerances: binary masks and sampled graded masks with moderate optical density requirements.

Source: The Astrophysical Journal

DOI: 10.1086/430200

Authors: Marc J. Kuchner, Justin Crepp, Jian Ge

Institutions: Princeton University, University of Florida

Language: English

Topic: Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Space Telescope Science Institute

Awards: INFRARED SILICON IMMERSION GRATING TECHNOLOGY DEVE LOPMENT, Development of Fixed-delay Interferometry for Detecting Extra-solar Planets, Development of Silicon Immersion Grating Technology for Ground-based Infrared Astronomical Spectroscopy, COMPACT HIGH-RESOLUTION 3-D IMAGING SPECTROMETER FOR DISCOVERING OASES ON MARS