Experimental study of a low-order wavefront sensor for high-contrast coronagraphic imagers: Results in air and in vacuum

Julien Lozi, Ruslan Belikov, Sandrine J. Thomas, Eugene Pluzhnik, Eduardo Bendek, Olivier Guyon, Glenn Schneider

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

For the technology development of the mission EXCEDE (EXoplanetary Circumstellar Environments and Disk Explorer) - a 0.7 m telescope equipped with a Phase-Induced Amplitude Apodization Coronagraph (PIAA- C) and a 2000-element MEMS deformable mirror, capable of raw contrasts of 10-6 at 1.2 λ/D and 10-7 above 2 λ /D - we developed two test benches simulating its key components, one in air, the other in vacuum. To achieve this level of contrast, one of the main goals is to remove low-order aberrations, using a Low-Order WaveFront Sensor (LOWFS). We tested this key component, together with the coronagraph and the wavefront control, in air at NASA Ames Research Center and in vacuum at Lockheed Martin. The LOWFS, controlling tip/tilt modes in real time at 1 kHz, allowed us to reduce the disturbances in air to 10-3 λ/D rms, letting us achieve a contrast of 2.8×10-7 between 1.2 and 2 λ/D. Tests are currently being performed to achieve the same or a better level of correction in vacuum. With those results, and by comparing them to simulations, we are able to deduce its performances on different coronagraphs - different sizes of telescopes, inner working angles, contrasts, etc. - and therefore study its contribution beyond EXCEDE.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014
Subtitle of host publicationOptical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave
EditorsJacobus M. Oschmann, Mark Clampin, Howard A. MacEwen, Giovanni G. Fazio
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9780819496119
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014
EventSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave - Montreal, Canada
Duration: Jun 22 2014Jun 27 2014

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9143
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherSpace Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityMontreal
Period6/22/146/27/14

Keywords

  • Control
  • Coronagraph
  • EXCEDE
  • High-contrast imaging
  • Linear quadratic Gaussian controller
  • Low-order wavefront sensor
  • PIAA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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