Shaped pupil coronagraphy with WFIRST-AFTA

Alexis Carlotti; N. Jeremy Kasdin; Robert J. Vanderbei

doi:10.1117/12.2024096

26 September 2013 Shaped pupil coronagraphy with WFIRST-AFTA

Alexis Carlotti, N. Jeremy Kasdin, Robert J. Vanderbei

Proceedings Volume 8864, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets VI; 886410 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2024096
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The recently completed study of using one of the AFTA telescopes for a potential WFIRST mission included a coronagraph instrument for exoplanet imaging. The challenge is to design a coronagraph that achieves the desired high contrast in the presence of the complicated on-axis optical architecture of the AFTA. This is especially difficult if contrast levels as small as 10^-9 must be achieved at only 3λ/D from the star. In this paper we present shaped pupil designs using our new two-dimensional formulation. These designs also include constraints given by the wavefront control system, a necessary element of a complete high-contrast system in space. We have computed various shaped pupils for different contrast floors, inner working angles, and high- contrast region shapes. Two main types of masks are presented: discovery masks that offer wide discovery space with moderate inner working angles, and characterization masks which are designed for narrower discovery space and smaller inner working angles. Discovery and characterization masks would be used to image planets at different distances from the star at the same wavelengths, or to image the same planets at different wavelengths.

Citation Download Citation

Alexis Carlotti, N. Jeremy Kasdin, and Robert J. Vanderbei "Shaped pupil coronagraphy with WFIRST-AFTA", Proc. SPIE 8864, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets VI, 886410 (26 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2024096

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available