1994/04/12 by F. Malbet, Fabien Malbet, Michael Shao +5
Physics and Astronomy · #Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Astrophysics (astro-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.astro-ph/9404022
in Proc. of 1994's SPIE symposium on "Astronomical Telescopes & Instrumentation for the 21st Century",(10 pages, Postscript format, figures included) - contact: [[email protected]]
arxiv created 1994/04/12 · openalex publication_date 1994/04/12 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In the field of planet and proto-planetary disk detection, achieving high angular resolution and high dynamic range is a necessity. Coronography coupled with adaptive optics on Hubble Space Telescope is a way to get both good spatial resolution and high dynamic range. However, because of the residual figure errors on the primary and on the secondary, HST has a scattered light level that prevents it from detecting extra-solar planets. Our simulations show that by using an active mirror (400-1000 actuators) in the optical path of HST with adaptive optics, we can correct the mirror errors and decrease the scattering level by a factor 102 (from 10-4 to 10-6 fainter than the star). Furthermore, by controlling the spatial frequencies of the active mirror with a \em dark hole\/ algorithm we can decrease the scattering level in image zones where planet detection is likely. Using this technique, we have succeeded in decreasing the scattering level to 3× 10-8 of the star intensity within 1 arcsec from the central star. This will allow the detection of a Jupiter-like planet 10-9 times dimmer than the central star located 10 pc away in 1 hour of integration time with a signal-to-noise ratio of 5. This paper describes the method used to determine the actuator strokes applied to a deformable mirror to achieve planet detection and the design of a coronograph which implements this novel technique.