Numerical modeling of the Habex coronagraph

John Krist; Stefan Martin; Gary Kuan; Bertrand Mennesson; Garreth Ruane; Navtej Saini; John Trauger; James Breckinridge; Dimitri Mawet; Philip Stahl; Jeffrey Davis

doi:10.1117/12.2530462

9 September 2019 Numerical modeling of the Habex coronagraph

John Krist, Stefan Martin, Gary Kuan, Bertrand Mennesson, Garreth Ruane, Navtej Saini, John Trauger, James Breckinridge, Dimitri Mawet, Philip Stahl, Jeffrey Davis

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11117, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets IX; 1111705 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2530462
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2019, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Habex study, commissioned by NASA in preparation for the 2020 Decadal Survey, is evaluating a 4 meter space telescope for high contrast imaging and spectral characterization of extrasolar terrestrial planets. Its off-axis configuration, active structural metrology, and low-disturbance pointing control provide an optimal system for coronagraphs. We present predictions of the Habex performance using a charge 6 vortex coronagraph that have been obtained using numerical modeling techniques developed for the WFIRST coronagraph. The models include realistic optical surface and polarization-induced aberrations, pointing jitter, and thermally-induced wavefront variations. Wavefront control using dual deformable mirrors is simulated to create a dark, high-contrast hole around the star. The results show that current technologies can closely approach the Habex performance goals, and with some additional development in key areas (e.g., deformable mirror surface quality, low-polarization coatings, etc.) over the next few years they should reliably meet them.

Citation Download Citation

John Krist, Stefan Martin, Gary Kuan, Bertrand Mennesson, Garreth Ruane, Navtej Saini, John Trauger, James Breckinridge, Dimitri Mawet, Philip Stahl, and Jeffrey Davis "Numerical modeling of the Habex coronagraph", Proc. SPIE 11117, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets IX, 1111705 (9 September 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2530462

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

PROCEEDINGS
16 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY