Prototyping liquid-crystal coronagraphs for exo-Earth imaging

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, pp. 80

Abstract

This paper presents initial results from the ESA-funded “SUPPPPRESS” project, which aims to develop highperformance liquid-crystal coronagraphs for direct imaging of Earth-like exoplanets in reflected light. The project focuses on addressing the significant challenge of polarization leakage in vector vortex coronagraphs (VVCs). We utilize newly manufactured multi-grating, liquid-crystal VVCs, consisting of a two- or three-element stack of vortex and grating patterns, to reduce this leakage to the 10−10 contrast level. We detail the experimental setups, including calibration techniques with polarization microscopes and Mueller matrix ellipsometers to enhance the direct-write accuracy of the liquid-crystal patterns. The performance testing of these coronagraph masks will be conducted on the THD2 high-contrast imaging testbed in Paris.

Authors 13

1. Iva Laginja

   Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique · Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Lab. d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique (France)

   Leiden Observatory (Netherlands)

2. David S. Doelman Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Leiden Observatory · Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Observatory (Netherlands)

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

3. Frans Snik

   Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Observatory (Netherlands)

4. Pierre Baudoz

   Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique

   Affiliation as printed

   Lab. d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique (France)

5. Felix C. M. Bettonvil

   Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Observatory (Netherlands)

6. Jeroen H. H. Rietjens Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

7. Kristien Peeters Aachen cosine Remote Sensing B.V

   Cosine (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   cosine Remote Sensing B.V. (Netherlands)

8. Alexander B. C. Eigenraam Aachen SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research

   Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

9. Erin Pougheon

   Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique

   Affiliation as printed

   Lab. d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique (France)

10. Thomas van der Wielen

    Leiden Observatory

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden Observatory (Netherlands)

11. Thomas Wijnen Aachen Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

12. Mariya Krasteva

    European Space Agency

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)

13. Matteo Taccola

    European Space Agency

    Affiliation as printed

    European Space Agency (Netherlands)