Liquid-crystal vector vortex coronagraphs for exoplanet imaging: progress from the SUPPPPRESS project

Abstract

We report on the 1.5 years of progress of the ESA-funded “SUPPPPRESS” project, which aims to develop high-performance liquid-crystal coronagraphs for the direct detection and spectral characterization of Earth-like planets in the habitable zone. The project focuses on improving the contrast performance and increasing the operational spectral bandwidth of the Vector Vortex Coronagraph (VVC). We manufacture multi-grating VVCs, consisting of a two- or three-element stack of vortex and grating patterns, to significantly reduce the impact of polarization leakage and enabling us to fully exploit its achromatic and scale-invariant properties. In this paper, we discuss the improved liquid-crystal mask manufacturing, the multi-grating VVC assembly, and high-contrast imaging testing at the THD2 testbed in Paris.

Authors 9

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

   Space Research Organisation Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)

2. Rico Landman
3. Iva Laginja
   Affiliation as printed

   NOVA (Netherlands)

4. Frans Snik

   Leiden Observatory

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Observatory (Netherlands)

5. 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)

6. Pierre Baudoz

   Observatoire de Paris

   Affiliation as printed

   LIRA, Observatoire de Paris (France)

7. Felix C. M. Bettonvil
   Affiliation as printed

   NOVA (Netherlands)

8. Kristien Peeters Aachen cosine Remote Sensing B.V

   Cosine (Netherlands)

   Affiliation as printed

   cosine Remote Sensing B.V. (Netherlands)

9. 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)