Darwin Infrared Nulling Interferometer Demonstrator

L. L. A. Vosteen; B. Ahlers

doi:10.1117/12.613876

14 September 2005 Darwin Infrared Nulling Interferometer Demonstrator

L. L. A. Vosteen, B. Ahlers

Proceedings Volume 5905, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets II; 59050B (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.613876
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Darwin is a space based interferometry mission¹ of the European Space Agency (ESA) with the aim to detect and characterise earth-like planets outside our solar system. The current Darwin baseline consists of four spacecrafts (3 telescopes). Destructive interference of the starlight is required to allow detection of much fainter planet signals. The nulling ratio required is 10⁵. For Darwin high requirements are set upon the wavefront quality of the beams. In order to be able to have destructive interference with a contrast factor of 10⁵, a wavefront quality of λ/1400 (λ=6 micrometer) is needed. With current and/or foreseen technology, it is not possible to produce the optical elements with sufficient quality to meet this requirement. This means it is vital to develop wavefront filter devices for Darwin. Most promising for this purpose are single mode fibres. For visible and near-infrared light commercially available single mode fibres are available, however they do not extend yet to wavelengths above 4 micrometer. To overcome this shortcoming new single mode fibres are developed (i.e. by Astrium and TNO/ University of Rennes) for the Darwin wavelength range (6-20 μm). To characterize and test these fibres a system is designed allowing to determine the possible star light suppression with the fibre. This system is called "Darwin Infrared Nulling Interferometer Demonstrator" (DINID). The system is designed using the in-house knowledge from previous nulling set-ups in the visible and near-infrared wavelength range. It will permit to test fibres around 4 and 9 micrometer and includes an optical path difference control in order to compensate drifts. This paper describes the basis on which the set-up is designed.

Citation Download Citation

L. L. A. Vosteen and B. Ahlers "Darwin Infrared Nulling Interferometer Demonstrator", Proc. SPIE 5905, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets II, 59050B (14 September 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.613876

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KEYWORDS

Wavefronts

Interferometers

Planets

Infrared radiation

Nulling interferometry

Space telescopes

Destructive interference

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