Effects of diffraction and static wavefront errors on high-contrast imaging from the Thirty Meter Telescope

Mitchell Troy; Ian Crossfield; Gary Chanan; Philip Dumont; Joseph J. Green; Bruce Macintosh

doi:10.1117/12.671667

28 June 2006 Effects of diffraction and static wavefront errors on high-contrast imaging from the Thirty Meter Telescope

Mitchell Troy, Ian Crossfield, Gary Chanan, Philip Dumont, Joseph J. Green, Bruce Macintosh

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6272, Advances in Adaptive Optics II; 62722C (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671667
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

High-contrast imaging, particularly direct detection of extrasolar planets, is a major science driver for the next generation of extremely large telescopes such as the segmented Thirty Meter Telescope. This goal requires more than merely diffraction-limited imaging, but also attention to residual scattered light from wavefront errors and diffraction effects at the contrast level of 10^-8-10^-9. Using a wave-optics simulation of adaptive optics and a diffraction suppression system we investigate diffraction from the segmentation geometry, intersegment gaps, obscuration by the secondary mirror and its supports. We find that the large obscurations pose a greater challenge than the much smaller segment gaps. In addition the impact of wavefront errors from the primary mirror, including segment alignment and figure errors, are analyzed. Segment-to-segment reflectivity variations and residual segment figure error will be the dominant error contributors from the primary mirror. Strategies to mitigate these errors are discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Mitchell Troy, Ian Crossfield, Gary Chanan, Philip Dumont, Joseph J. Green, and Bruce Macintosh "Effects of diffraction and static wavefront errors on high-contrast imaging from the Thirty Meter Telescope", Proc. SPIE 6272, Advances in Adaptive Optics II, 62722C (28 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.671667

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