Astronomical coronagraphy with high-order adaptive optics systems

James P. Lloyd; James R. Graham; Paul R. Kalas; Ben R. Oppenheimer; Anand Sivaramakrishnan; Russell B. Makidon; Bruce A. Macintosh; Claire E. Max; Pierre Baudoz; Jeff R. Kuhn; Dan Potter

doi:10.1117/12.455437

27 December 2001 Astronomical coronagraphy with high-order adaptive optics systems

James P. Lloyd, James R. Graham, Paul R. Kalas, Ben R. Oppenheimer, Anand Sivaramakrishnan, Russell B. Makidon, Bruce A. Macintosh, Claire E. Max, Pierre Baudoz, Jeff R. Kuhn, Dan Potter

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4490, Multifrequency Electronic/Photonic Devices and Systems for Dual-Use Applications; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.455437
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Space surveillance systems have recently been developed that exploit high order adaptive optics systems to take diffraction limited images in visible light on 4 meter class telescopes. Most astronomical targets are faint, thus driving astronomical AO systems towards larger subapertures, and thus longer observing wavelengths for diffraction limited imaging at moderate Strehl ratio. There is, however, a particular niche that can be exploited by turning these visible light space surveillance systems to astronomical use at infrared wavelengths. At the longer wavelengths, the Strehl ratio rises dramatically, thus placing more light into the diffracted Airy pattern compared to the atmospheric halo. A Lyot coronagraph can be used to suppress the diffracted light from an on axis star, and observe faint companions and debris disks around nearby, bright stars. These very high contrast objects can only be observed with much higher order adaptive optics systems than are presently available to the astronomical community. We describe simulations of high order adaptive optics coronagraphs, and outline a project to deploy an astronomical coronagraph at the Air Force AEOS facility at the Maui Space Surveillance System.

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James P. Lloyd, James R. Graham, Paul R. Kalas, Ben R. Oppenheimer, Anand Sivaramakrishnan, Russell B. Makidon, Bruce A. Macintosh, Claire E. Max, Pierre Baudoz, Jeff R. Kuhn, and Dan Potter "Astronomical coronagraphy with high-order adaptive optics systems", Proc. SPIE 4490, Multifrequency Electronic/Photonic Devices and Systems for Dual-Use Applications, (27 December 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.455437

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