Sub-diffraction-limited coronagraphic imaging with nano-printed PIAACMC phase masks

Abstract

The extreme contrast and small separations needed to image Earth-like exoplanets in the habitable zones cannot be reached with current technology. The Phase-Induced Amplitude Apodization Complex Mask Coronagraph (PIAACMC) is a promising device to reach this goal. With its aspheric lenses to losslessly apodize the entrance pupil and a phase-shifting focal plane mask for starlight suppression, it allows us to achieve high throughput and small inner-working angle (IWA). The masks are manufactured in-house at Leiden University with Nanoscribe, a nano-3D-printer that uses two-photon polymerization achieving submicron precision in height. We present the first on-sky performance results of the PIAACMC at visible wavelengths and the detection of faint companions at separations 0.8-5λ/D (~23-145mas) with MagAO-X, the extreme adaptive optics instrument for the 6.5m Magellan Clay telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. This demonstrates the PIAACMC’s capability to observe at the diffraction limit.

Authors 25

1. Elena Tonucci Aachen Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

2. Sebastiaan Y. Haffert Aachen Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

   Steward Observatory (United States)

3. Warren B. Foster
   Affiliation as printed

   Steward Observatory (United States)

4. Jared R. Males
   Affiliation as printed

   Steward Observatory (United States)

5. Olivier Guyon

   University of Arizona

   Affiliation as printed

   Steward Observatory (United States)

   Subaru Telescope, NAOJ (United States)

   Wyant College of Optical Sciences (United States)

6. Laird M. Close
   Affiliation as printed

   Steward Observatory (United States)

7. Kyle Van Gorkom
   Affiliation as printed

   Steward Observatory (United States)

8. Alexander D. Hedglen

   Northrop Grumman (United States)

   Affiliation as printed

   Northrop Grumman Corp. (United States)

9. Parker T. Johnson
   Affiliation as printed

   Steward Observatory (United States)

10. Maggie Kautz
    Affiliation as printed

    Steward Observatory (United States)

11. Jay K. Kueny

    University of Arizona

    Affiliation as printed

    Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)

12. Rico Landman Aachen Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

13. Jialin Li
    Affiliation as printed

    Steward Observatory (United States)

14. Joshua Liberman

    University of Arizona

    Affiliation as printed

    Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)

15. Joseph D. Long

    Flatiron Institute

    Affiliation as printed

    Flatiron Institute (United States)

16. Miles Lucas
    Affiliation as printed

    Steward Observatory (United States)

17. Jennifer Lumbres

    University of Arizona

    Affiliation as printed

    Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)

18. Matthijs Mars Aachen Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

19. Eden McEwen

    University of Arizona

    Affiliation as printed

    Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)

20. Avalon McLeod

    Draper Laboratory

    Affiliation as printed

    Draper Lab. (United States)

21. Tiffany Nguyen

    University of Arizona

    Affiliation as printed

    Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)

22. Logan Pearce

    University of Michigan

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of Michigan (United States)

23. Maria Dolores ferreiro gonzalez Aachen Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

24. Lauren Schatz

    United States Air Force Research Laboratory

    Affiliation as printed

    Air Force Research Lab. (United States)

25. Katie Twitchell

    University of Arizona

    Affiliation as printed

    Wyant College of Optical Sciences, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)