Prototyping liquid-crystal coronagraphs for exo-Earth imaging
Abstract
This paper presents initial results from the ESA-funded ``SUPPPPRESS'' project, which aims to develop high-performance 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
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Iva Laginja Aachen
Leiden University · Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique
Affiliation as printed
LESIA , Observatoire de Paris , Université PSL , CNRS , Sorbonne Université , Université Paris Cité , 5 place Jules Janssen , 92195 Meudon , France
NOVA/Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands
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Leiden University · Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
NOVA/Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Niels Bohrweg 4 , 2333 CA Leiden , The Netherlands
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Frans Snik Aachen
Affiliation as printed
NOVA/Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique
Affiliation as printed
LESIA , Observatoire de Paris , Université PSL , CNRS , Sorbonne Université , Université Paris Cité , 5 place Jules Janssen , 92195 Meudon , France
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Felix C. M. Bettonvil Aachen
Affiliation as printed
NOVA/Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands
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Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Niels Bohrweg 4 , 2333 CA Leiden , The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
cosine Remote Sensing B.V. , Warmonderweg 14 , 2171 AH Sassenheim , The Netherlands
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Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research , Niels Bohrweg 4 , 2333 CA Leiden , The Netherlands
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique
Affiliation as printed
LESIA , Observatoire de Paris , Université PSL , CNRS , Sorbonne Université , Université Paris Cité , 5 place Jules Janssen , 92195 Meudon , France
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Tom van der Wielen Aachen
Affiliation as printed
NOVA/Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands
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Thomas Wijnen Aachen
Affiliation as printed
NOVA/Leiden University , Einsteinweg 55 , 2333 CC Leiden , The Netherlands
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European Space Agency · European Space Research and Technology Centre
Affiliation as printed
European Space Agency (ESA) , European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) , Keplerlaan 1 , 2201 AZ Noordwijk , The Netherlands
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European Space Agency · European Space Research and Technology Centre
Affiliation as printed
European Space Agency (ESA) , European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) , Keplerlaan 1 , 2201 AZ Noordwijk , The Netherlands
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