Optimized focal and pupil plane masks for vortex coronagraphs on telescopes with obstructed apertures

Garreth J. Ruane; Olivier Absil; Elsa Huby; Dimitri Mawet; Christian Delacroix; Brunella Carlomagno; Pierre Piron; Grover A. Swartzlander Jr.

doi:10.1117/12.2187236

11 September 2015 Optimized focal and pupil plane masks for vortex coronagraphs on telescopes with obstructed apertures

Garreth J. Ruane, Olivier Absil, Elsa Huby, Dimitri Mawet, Christian Delacroix, Brunella Carlomagno, Pierre Piron, Grover A. Swartzlander Jr.

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9605, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets VII; 96051I (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2187236
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

We present methods for optimizing pupil and focal plane optical elements that improve the performance of vortex coronagraphs on telescopes with obstructed or segmented apertures. Phase-only and complex masks are designed for the entrance pupil, focal plane, and the plane of the Lyot stop. Optimal masks are obtained using both analytical and numerical methods. The latter makes use of an iterative error reduction algorithm to calculate "correcting" optics that mitigate unwanted diffraction from aperture obstructions. We analyze the achieved performance in terms of starlight suppression, contrast, off-axis image quality, and chromatic dependence. Manufacturing considerations and sensitivity to aberrations are also discussed. This work provides a path to joint optimization of multiple coronagraph planes to maximize sensitivity to exoplanets and other faint companions.

Citation Download Citation

Garreth J. Ruane, Olivier Absil, Elsa Huby, Dimitri Mawet, Christian Delacroix, Brunella Carlomagno, Pierre Piron, and Grover A. Swartzlander Jr. "Optimized focal and pupil plane masks for vortex coronagraphs on telescopes with obstructed apertures", Proc. SPIE 9605, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets VII, 96051I (11 September 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2187236

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