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arXiv · 1901.04049

Lessons for WFIRST CGI from ground-based high-contrast systems

Vanessa P. Bailey·Michael Bottom·Eric Cady·Faustine Cantalloube·Jozua de Boer·Tyler Groff·John Krist·Maxwell A. Millar-Blanchaer·Arthur Vigan·Jeffrey Chilcote·Elodie Choquet·Robert J. De Rosa·Julien H Girard·Olivier Guyon·Brian Kern·Anne-Marie Lagrange·Bruce Macintosh·Jared R. Males·Christian Marois·Tiffany Meshkat·Julien Milli·Mamadou N'Diaye·Henry Ngo·Eric L. Nielsen·Jason Rhodes·Garreth Ruane·Rob G. van Holstein·Jason J. Wang·Wenhao Jerry Xuan
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Abstract

The Coronagraph Instrument (CGI) for NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) will constitute a dramatic step forward for high-contrast imaging, integral field spectroscopy, and polarimetry of exoplanets and circumstellar disks, aiming to improve upon the sensitivity of current ground-based direct imaging facilities by 2-3 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, CGI will serve as a pathfinder for future exo-Earth imaging and characterization missions by demonstrating wavefront control, coronagraphy, and spectral retrieval in a new contrast regime, and by validating instrument and telescope models at unprecedented levels of precision. To achieve this jump in performance, it is critical to draw on the experience of ground-based high-contrast facilities. We discuss several areas of relevant commonalities, including: wavefront control, post-processing of integral field unit data, and calibration and observing strategies.

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Vanessa P. Bailey, Michael Bottom, Eric Cady, Faustine Cantalloube, Jozua de Boer, Tyler Groff, John Krist, Maxwell A. Millar-Blanchaer, Arthur Vigan, Jeffrey Chilcote, Elodie Choquet, Robert J. De Rosa, Julien H Girard, Olivier Guyon, Brian Kern, Anne-Marie Lagrange, Bruce Macintosh, Jared R. Males, Christian Marois, Tiffany Meshkat, Julien Milli, Mamadou N'Diaye, Henry Ngo, Eric L. Nielsen, Jason Rhodes, Garreth Ruane, Rob G. van Holstein, Jason J. Wang, Wenhao Jerry Xuan. 2019-01-13. Lessons for WFIRST CGI from ground-based high-contrast systems. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313820

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