Stabilising a nulling interferometer using optical path difference dithering: an update

Pavel Gabor; Bruno Chazelas; Peter A. Schuller; Frank Brachet; Marc Ollivier; Michel Decaudin; Alain Labèque; Philippe Duret; Sophie Jacquinod; Alain Léger

doi:10.1117/12.789222

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28 July 2008 Stabilising a nulling interferometer using optical path difference dithering: an update

Pavel Gabor; Bruno Chazelas; Peter A. Schuller; Frank Brachet; Marc Ollivier; Michel Decaudin; Alain Labèque; Philippe Duret; Sophie Jacquinod; Alain Léger

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Proceedings Volume 7013, Optical and Infrared Interferometry; 70131R (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789222
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

Nulling interferometry has been suggested as the underlying principle for an instrument which could provide direct detection and spectroscopy of Earth-like exo-planets, including searches for potential bio-signatures. This paper documents the potential of optical path difference (OPD) stabilisation with dithering methods for improving the mean nulling ratio and its stability. The basic dithering algorithm, its refined versions and parameter tuning, are reviewed. This paper takes up the recently presented results¹ and provides an update on OPD-stabilisation at significantly higher levels of nulling performance.

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Pavel Gabor, Bruno Chazelas, Peter A. Schuller, Frank Brachet, Marc Ollivier, Michel Decaudin, Alain Labèque, Philippe Duret, Sophie Jacquinod, and Alain Léger "Stabilising a nulling interferometer using optical path difference dithering: an update", Proc. SPIE 7013, Optical and Infrared Interferometry, 70131R (28 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789222

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