Dr. Kamel Houairi Profile

Dr. Kamel Houairi

at Thales Alenia Space

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (12)

Proceedings Article | 21 November 2017 Open Access

PERSEE: a nulling interferometer with dynamic correction of external perturbations

S. Jacquinod, K. Houairi, J.-M. Le Duigou, M. Barillot, F. Cassaing, J.-M. Réess, F. Hénault, B. Sorrente, G. Morinaud, J.-P. Amans, V. Coudé du Foresto, M. Ollivier

Proceedings Volume 10566, 105660W (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2308245

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Proceedings Article | 20 November 2017 Open Access

Final results of the PERSEE experiment

J.-M. Le Duigou, J. Lozi, F. Cassaing, K. Houairi, B. Sorrente, J. Montri, S. Jacquinod, J.-M. Réess, L. Pham, E. Lhomé, T. Buey, F. Hénault, A. Marcotto, P. Girard, N. Mauclert, M. Barillot, V. Coudé du Foresto, M. Ollivier

Proceedings Volume 10564, 105640E (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2309220

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Proceedings Article | 20 November 2017 Open Access

First results of the PERSEE experiment

J.-M. Le Duigou, J. Lozi, F. Cassaing, K. Houairi, B. Sorrente, J. Montri, S. Jacquinod, J.-M. Reess, L. Pham, E. Lhomé, T. Buey, F. Hénault, A. Marcotto, P. Girard, N. Mauclert, M. Barillot, V. Coudé du Foresto, M. Ollivier

Proceedings Volume 10565, 105650W (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2309159

KEYWORDS: Astronomical imaging, Mirrors, Nulling interferometry, Satellites, Space operations, Sensors, Calibration, Phase shifts, Autocollimation, Colorimetry

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Although it has been recently postponed due to high cost and risks, nulling interferometry in space remains one of the very few direct detection methods able to characterize extrasolar planets and particularly telluric ones. Within this framework, several projects such as DARWIN [1], [2], TPF-I [3], [4], FKSI [5] or PEGASE [6], [7], have been proposed in the past years. Most of them are based on a free flying concept. It allows firstly to avoid atmosphere turbulence, and secondly to distribute instrumental function over many satellites flying in close formation. In this way, a very high angular resolution can be achieved with an acceptable launch mass. But the price to pay is to very precisely position and stabilize relatively the spacecrafts, in order to achieve a deep and stable extinction of the star. Understanding and mastering all these requirements are great challenges and key issues towards the feasibility of these missions. Thus, we decided to experimentally study this question and focus on some possible simplifications of the concept.

Since 2006, PERSEE (PEGASE Experiment for Research and Stabilization of Extreme Extinction) laboratory test bench is under development by a consortium composed of Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), Observatoire de Paris-Meudon (LESIA), Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur (OCA), Office National d’Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA), and Thalès Alénia Space (TAS) [8]. It is mainly funded by CNES R&D. PERSEE couples an infrared wide band nulling interferometer with local OPD and tip/tilt control loops and a free flying Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) simulator able to introduce realistic disturbances. Although it was designed in the framework of the PEGASE free flying space mission, PERSEE can adapt very easily to other contexts like FKSI (in space, with a 10 m long beam structure) or ALADDIN [9] (on ground, in Antarctica) because the optical designs of all those missions are very similar. After a short description of the experimental setup, we will present first the results obtained in an intermediate configuration with monochromatic light. Then we will present some preliminary results with polychromatic light. Last, we discuss some very first more general lessons we can already learn from this experiment.

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Proceedings Article | 12 September 2012 Paper

Final results of the PERSEE experiment

J. M. Le Duigou, J. Lozi, F. Cassaing, K. Houairi, B. Sorrente, J. Montri, S. Jacquinod, J.-M. Reess, L. Pham, E. Lhome, T. Buey, F. Hénault, A. Marcotto, P. Girard, N. Mauclert, M. Barillot, V. Coudé du Foresto, M. Ollivier

Proceedings Volume 8445, 844525 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925350

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Mirrors, Cameras, Space operations, Nulling interferometry, Sensors, Satellites, Beam splitters, Signal to noise ratio, Collimators

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Proceedings Article | 15 September 2011 Paper

Design of a star, planet and exo-zodiacal cloud simulator for the nulling testbench PERSEE

François Hénault, Paul Girard, Aurelie Marcotto, Nicolas Mauclert, Christophe Bailet, Bruno Lopez, Florentin Millour, Yves Rabbia, Alain Roussel, Marc Barillot, Julien Lozi, Frederic Cassaing, Kamel Houairi, Beatrice Sorrente, Joseph Montri, Emilie Lhome, Jean-Michel Reess, Laurie Pham, Jean-Tristan Buey, Vincent Coudé du Foresto, Sophie Jacquinod, Marc Ollivier, Jean-Michel Le Duigou

Proceedings Volume 8151, 815116 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.892748

KEYWORDS: Stars, Planets, Surface plasmons, Interferometers, Mirrors, Clouds, Reflectivity, Single mode fibers, Transmittance, Light sources

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Proceedings Article | 22 July 2010 Paper

PERSEE: experimental results on the cophased nulling bench

J. Lozi, F. Cassaing, J. M. Le Duigou, K. Houairi, B. Sorrente, J. Montri, S. Jacquinod, J.-M. Rees, L. Pham, E. Lhome, T. Buey, F. Hénault, A. Marcotto, P. Girard, N. Mauclert, M. Barillot, V. Coudé du Foresto, M. Ollivier

Proceedings Volume 7734, 77342M (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856867

KEYWORDS: Filtering (signal processing), Calibration, Phase shifts, Mirrors, Nulling interferometry, Satellites, Space operations, Colorimetry, Sensors, Beam splitters

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Proceedings Article | 15 July 2010 Paper

NESSI: the New Mexico Tech Extrasolar Spectroscopic Survey Instrument

C. Jurgenson, F. Santoro, M. Creech-Eakman, K. Houairi, H. Bloemhard, G. Vasisht, M. Swain, P. Deroo, C. Moore, L. Schmidt, P. Boston, D. Rodeheffer, P. Chen

Proceedings Volume 7735, 773519 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856514

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Exoplanets, Spectrographs, Space telescopes, Infrared telescopes, Magdalena Ridge Observatory, Sensors, Prisms, Spectroscopes, Calibration

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2008 Paper

PERSEE: description of a new concept for nulling interferometry recombination and OPD measurement

Sophie Jacquinod, Frédéric Cassaing, Jean-Michel Le Duigou, Marc Barillot, Marc Ollivier, Kamel Houairi, Frederic Lemarquis, Jean-Philippe Amans

Proceedings Volume 7013, 70131T (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788977

KEYWORDS: Nulling interferometry, Beam splitters, Optical design, Mirrors, Mechanical engineering, Stray light, Interferometers, Mach-Zehnder interferometers, Sensors, Infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2008 Paper

Fringe tracking optimization with 4 beams: application to GRAVITY

K. Houairi, F. Cassaing, G. Perrin, F. Eisenhauer, W. Brandner, C. Straubmeier, S. Gillessen

Proceedings Volume 7013, 70131B (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.790967

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Phase measurement, Stars, Interferometers, Atmospheric propagation, Atmospheric modeling, Detection and tracking algorithms, Adaptive optics, Demodulation, Visibility

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2008 Paper

Persee: a nulling demonstrator with real-time correction of external disturbances

F. Cassaing, J. M. Le Duigou, J. P. Amans, M. Barillot, T. Buey, F. Henault, K. Houairi, S. Jacquinod, P. Laporte, A. Marcotto, L. Pirson, J. M. Reess, B. Sorrente, G. Rousset, V. Coudé du Foresto, M. Ollivier

Proceedings Volume 7013, 70131Z (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789316

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Nulling interferometry, Sensors, Cameras, Stars, Space operations, Single mode fibers, Fourier transforms, Signal to noise ratio, Interferometers

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2008 Open Access

GRAVITY: getting to the event horizon of Sgr A*

F. Eisenhauer, G. Perrin, W. Brandner, C. Straubmeier, A. Richichi, S. Gillessen, J. P. Berger, S. Hippler, A. Eckart, M. Schöller, S. Rabien, F. Cassaing, R. Lenzen, M. Thiel, Y. Clénet, J. R. Ramos, S. Kellner, P. Fédou, H. Baumeister, R. Hofmann, E. Gendron, A. Boehm, H. Bartko, X. Haubois, R. Klein, K. Dodds-Eden, K. Houairi, F. Hormuth, A. Gräter, L. Jocou, V. Naranjo, R. Genzel, P. Kervella, T. Henning, N. Hamaus, S. Lacour, U. Neumann, M. Haug, F. Malbet, W. Laun, J. Kolmeder, T. Paumard, R.-R. Rohloff, O. Pfuhl, K. Perraut, J. Ziegleder, D. Rouan, G. Rousset

Proceedings Volume 7013, 70132A (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788407

KEYWORDS: Stars, Telescopes, Near infrared, Adaptive optics, Metrology, Sensors, Interferometry, Integrated optics, Wavefront sensors, Spectroscopy

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2008 Paper

PERSEE, the dynamic nulling demonstrator: recent progress on the cophasing system

K. Houairi, F. Cassaing, J. M. Le Duigou, B. Sorrente, S. Jacquinod, J. P. Amans

Proceedings Volume 7013, 70131W (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789113

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Visibility, Phase measurement, Nulling interferometry, Interferometers, Signal to noise ratio, Space operations, Interferometry, Sodium, Niobium

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Showing 5 of 12 publications

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