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arXiv · 2309.04925

Integrated photonic-based coronagraphic systems for future space telescopes

Niyati Desai·Lorenzo König·Emiel Por·Roser Juanola-Parramon·Ruslan Belikov·Iva Laginja·Olivier Guyon·Laurent Pueyo·Kevin Fogarty·Olivier Absil·Lisa Altinier·Pierre Baudoz·Alexis Bidot·Markus Johannes Bonse·Kimberly Bott·Bernhard Brandl·Alexis Carlotti·Sarah L. Casewell·Elodie Choquet·Nicolas B. Cowan·David Doelman·J. Fowler·Timothy D. Gebhard·Yann Gutierrez·Sebastiaan Y. Haffert·Olivier Herscovici-Schiller·Adrien Hours·Matthew Kenworthy·Elina Kleisioti·Mariya Krasteva·Rico Landman·Lucie Leboulleux·Johan Mazoyer·Maxwell A. Millar-Blanchaer·David Mouillet·Mamadou NDiaye·Frans Snik·Dirk van Dam·Kyle van Gorkom·Maaike van Kooten·Sophia R. Vaughan
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Abstract

The detection and characterization of Earth-like exoplanets around Sun-like stars is a primary science motivation for the Habitable Worlds Observatory. However, the current best technology is not yet advanced enough to reach the 10^-10 contrasts at close angular separations and at the same time remain insensitive to low-order aberrations, as would be required to achieve high-contrast imaging of exo-Earths. Photonic technologies could fill this gap, potentially doubling exo-Earth yield. We review current work on photonic coronagraphs and investigate the potential of hybridized designs which combine both classical coronagraph designs and photonic technologies into a single optical system. We present two possible systems. First, a hybrid solution which splits the field of view spatially such that the photonics handle light within the inner working angle and a conventional coronagraph that suppresses starlight outside it. Second, a hybrid solution where the conventional coronagraph and photonics operate in series, complementing each other and thereby loosening requirements on each subsystem. As photonic technologies continue to advance, a hybrid or fully photonic coronagraph holds great potential for future exoplanet imaging from space.

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Niyati Desai, Lorenzo König, Emiel Por, Roser Juanola-Parramon, Ruslan Belikov, Iva Laginja, Olivier Guyon, Laurent Pueyo, Kevin Fogarty, Olivier Absil, Lisa Altinier, Pierre Baudoz, Alexis Bidot, Markus Johannes Bonse, Kimberly Bott, Bernhard Brandl, Alexis Carlotti, Sarah L. Casewell, Elodie Choquet, Nicolas B. Cowan, David Doelman, J. Fowler, Timothy D. Gebhard, Yann Gutierrez, Sebastiaan Y. Haffert, Olivier Herscovici-Schiller, Adrien Hours, Matthew Kenworthy, Elina Kleisioti, Mariya Krasteva, Rico Landman, Lucie Leboulleux, Johan Mazoyer, Maxwell A. Millar-Blanchaer, David Mouillet, Mamadou NDiaye, Frans Snik, Dirk van Dam, Kyle van Gorkom, Maaike van Kooten, Sophia R. Vaughan. 2023-09-10. Integrated photonic-based coronagraphic systems for future space telescopes. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2677210

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