Key technologies for the Pupil mapping Exoplanet Coronagraphic Observer (PECO)

Details Key technologies for the Pupil mapping Exoplanet Coronagraphic Observer (PECO) Key technologies for the Pupil mapping Exoplanet Coronagraphic Observer (PECO)

Jan 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21345106g&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #451.06; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.345

Physics

Optics

1

Scientific paper

The Pupil mapping Exoplanet Coronagraphic Observer (PECO) mission concept is a 1.4-m coronagraphic telescope aimed at directly imaging the habitable zones of nearby stars at optical wavelengths. PECO can detect and characterizing planets down to Earth size and map dust clouds to a fraction of our zodiacal cloud dust brightness.
PECO achieves its power by using a highly efficient Phase-Induced Amplitude Apodization (PIAA) coronagraph, designed to deliver 1e10 contrast at 2 lambda/D while preserving the telescope's sensitivity and angular resolution. The PIAA coronagraph uses highly aspheric optics to apodize the telescope's beam without loosing light. PECO also includes a high accuracy wavefront control system which is essential to achieve the 1e10 coronagraph contrast. Pointing is controlled at the sub-milliarcsecond level using starlight in the coronagraph.
The PIAA coronagraph system, including the wavefront control system, has been demonstrated in air at the Subaru Telescope testbed to 1e7 contrast. An ongoing joint NASA Ames / NASA JPL effort is aimed at demonstrating PIAA performance in the High Contrast Imaging Testbed (HCIT) at NASA JPL. This facility provides a stable environment in vacuum, which is essential to reach the 1e10 contrast level. In addition, a highly flexible testbed in air at NASA Ames will be used to explore coronagraph and wavefront control trades. PECO key technologies also include photon-counting detectors and fine pointing control.

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