Liquid crystal intensity modulator for simulating planetary transits

Greg Kopp

doi:10.1117/12.504521

19 November 2003 Liquid crystal intensity modulator for simulating planetary transits

Greg Kopp

Proceedings Volume 5170, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.504521
Event: Optical Science and Technology, SPIE's 48th Annual Meeting, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

I describe a liquid crystal intensity modulator designed to achieve <10 parts per million (ppm) modulation to simulate a planetary transit like those required for ground testing of NASA's Kepler mission. The design uses a nematic liquid crystal as a variable retarder aligned between two linear polarizers, with the retardance values and the alignment chosen to provide low sensitivity of transmitted intensity to input liquid crystal voltage variations. Modulator test results give intensity fluctuations of a few ppm from millivolt modulations about the input 8 V baseline voltage.

Citation Download Citation

Greg Kopp "Liquid crystal intensity modulator for simulating planetary transits", Proc. SPIE 5170, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets, (19 November 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.504521

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KEYWORDS

Liquid crystals

Modulation

Polarizers

Stars

Modulators

Wave plates

Polarization

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