Characterization of habitable exoplanets with simultaneous coronagraphy and astrometry with a single aperture telescope

Olivier Guyon; Eduardo Bendek; S. Mark Ammons; Michael Shao; Stuart Shaklan; Robert A. Woodruff; Ruslan Belikov; Thomas Milster

doi:10.1117/12.927196

21 September 2012 Characterization of habitable exoplanets with simultaneous coronagraphy and astrometry with a single aperture telescope

Olivier Guyon, Eduardo Bendek, S. Mark Ammons, Michael Shao, Stuart Shaklan, Robert A. Woodruff, Ruslan Belikov, Thomas Milster

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8442, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave; 84420K (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.927196
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

With sub-microarcsecond astrometry, exoplanets can be identified and their masses measured. Coronagraphic imaging of these exoplanets is required to study their atmospheres and surfaces in sufficient detail to identify possible signs of biological activity. We show how both measurements can be simultaneously acquired with a single telescope in which the central field is directed to a coronagraph instrument providing high contrast images, while the surrounding field is imaged with a wide field camera in which numerous faint background stars are used as an astrometric reference. To calibrate astrometric distortions due to optics and focal plane detector array imperfections and variations, we propose to place small dark spots on the telescope primary mirror. The spots, arranged in a regular grid containing no low spatial frequencies, do not affect the coronagraph performance. In the wide field image, they create diffraction spikes originating from the central bright star, which are affected by changes in intrumental distortions in exactly the same way as the background stars used for reference, thus allowing calibration of instrumental errors to micro-arcsecond level. We show that combining simultaneous astrometric and coronagraphic measurements allows reliable detection and characterization of exoplanets. Recent laboratory tests performed at the University of Arizona and NASA Ames validate the concept, demonstrating both the ability to accurately calibrate astrometric distortions, and compatibility with high contrast imaging systems.

Citation Download Citation

Olivier Guyon, Eduardo Bendek, S. Mark Ammons, Michael Shao, Stuart Shaklan, Robert A. Woodruff, Ruslan Belikov, and Thomas Milster "Characterization of habitable exoplanets with simultaneous coronagraphy and astrometry with a single aperture telescope", Proc. SPIE 8442, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 84420K (21 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.927196

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

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
9 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Stars

Coronagraphy

Telescopes

Exoplanets

Diffraction

Space telescopes

Planets

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years