Speckle nulling for exoplanet detection with space-based coronagraphic telescopes

Pascal J. Bordé; Wesley A. Traub; Brian D. Kern; John T. Trauger; Andreas C. Kuhnert

doi:10.1117/12.670553

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14 June 2006 Speckle nulling for exoplanet detection with space-based coronagraphic telescopes

Pascal J. Bordé; Wesley A. Traub; Brian D. Kern; John T. Trauger; Andreas C. Kuhnert

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6265, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter; 62651C (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670553
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

To detect Earth-like planets in the visible with a coronagraphic telescope, two major noise sources have to be overcome: the photon noise of the diffracted star light, and the speckle noise due to the star light scattered by instrumental defects. Coronagraphs tackle only the photon noise contribution. In order to decrease the speckle noise below the planet level, an active control of the wave front is required. We have developed analytical methods to measure and correct the speckle noise behind a coronagraph with a deformable mirror. In this paper, we summarize these methods, present numerical simulations, and discuss preliminary experimental results obtained with the High-Contrast Imaging Testbed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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Pascal J. Bordé, Wesley A. Traub, Brian D. Kern, John T. Trauger, and Andreas C. Kuhnert "Speckle nulling for exoplanet detection with space-based coronagraphic telescopes", Proc. SPIE 6265, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter, 62651C (14 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670553

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