Nulling interferometry by use of geometric phase

Lateral shearing with a pair of double Fresnel rhombs for nulling interferometry

A lateral-shearing interferometer with a pair of double Fresnel rhombs is proposed. Use of Fresnel rhombs enables us to accomplish simultaneously lateral shearing and achromatic nulling. Nulling interferometry with lateral shearing is one of the basic methods for searching directly for extrasolar planets with a segmented-mirror telescope. Here the Thirty-Meter Telescope is considered as a model of a segmented-mirror telescope. Our computer simulations show high extinction for the K-band (2.0-2.4 μm). Optical experiments are conducted to verify the lateral shearing and nulling with a pair of double Fresnel rhombs.

Polarization interferometric nulling coronagraph for high-contrast imaging

We propose a novel, high-contrast imager called a polarization interferometric nulling coronagraph (PINC) for direct detection of extrasolar planets. The PINC uses achromatic half-wave plates (HWPs) installed in a fully symmetric beam combiner based on polarizing beam splitters. Jones calculus suggests that a stellar halo suppression level of 10(-10) can be achieved at 5 lambda/D for a broad wavelength range from 1.6 to 2.2 microm by using Fresnel-rhomb HWPs made of BK7. Laboratory experiments on the PINC used two laser light sources (wavelengths of lambda=532 and 671 nm), and we obtained a halo suppression level of approximately 10(-6) at 5 lambda/D for both wavelengths.

Method to reconstruct exoplanetary spectrum

We present a method for spectroscopic observations of exoplanets. Coronagraphic image of a star-planet system and its objective spectra are observed simultaneously. Stellar image and objective spectrum without coronagraphic suppression are also obtained as reference. By convolution of the coronagraphic image with the reference stellar spectrum, pseudo-objective spectra are synthesized. The difference between the observed and the synthesized pseudospectra reveals the distinctive features of planetary spectrum. We carry out laboratory demonstration of the proposed technique and show that the planetary spectrum is reconstructed.

Variable phase retarder made of a dielectric elastomer actuator

We present a polymeric optical phase retarder that is electrically tunable by a dielectric elastomer actuator. The soft material device affords a large tuning range (14pi at lambda=488 nm) combined with high accuracy in optical path length and low drift rate (8.3 nm/min). Furthermore, the phase retarder is not sensitive to polarization, introduces a wavefront distortion<lambda/30, and tolerates high power densities (>141 kW/cm2). We show the dynamics for periodic phase modulation and demonstrate a simple drive technique for fast phase stepping. The polymer-based device is inexpensive, easy to fabricate, and its design can be adapted to specific applications.

Common-path achromatic interferometer-coronagraph: images from a breadboard demonstrator

A three-dimensional common-path interferometer is proposed, which can achromatically null out an on-axis source while maintaining the detectability of an off-axis source. A geometric phase in the three-dimensional interferometer introduces an achromatic pi-phase shift to the light from the on-axis source, such that destructive interference nulls out the axial light at one of the ports of the interferometer. Light from the off-axis source, which is exempt from destructive interference, comes out from both ports with equal intensity. The common-path scheme makes the system highly immune to environmental disturbances. In the described experiment, a 6x10(-6) peak-to-peak nulling contrast was obtained.

Chromatism compensation in wide-band nulling interferometry for exoplanet detection

We introduce the concept of chromatism compensation in nulling interferometry that enables a high rejection ratio in a wide spectral band. Therefore the achromaticity condition considered in most nulling interferometers can be relaxed. We show that this chromatism compensation cannot be applied to a two-beam nulling interferometer, and we make an analysis of the particular case of a three-telescope configuration.

Common-path achromatic interferometer-coronagraph: nulling of polychromatic light

A three-dimensional common-path interferometer is proposed, which can achromatically null out an on-axis source while it maintains the detectability of an off-axis source. A geometric phase in the three-dimensional interferometer introduces an achromatic pi-phase shift to the light from the on-axis source, such that destructive interference nulls out the axial light at one of the ports of the interferometer. Light from the off-axis source, which is exempt from the pi-phase shift, comes out from both ports with equal intensity. The common-path scheme makes the system highly immune to environmental disturbances.

Achromatic nulling interferometer based on a geometric spin-redirection phase

Nulling interferometry aims to perform destructive interference achromatically. It is used to detect a faint source near a bright one and to provide dark field, an annular pupil, and rotational shear. A nulling out-of-plane interferometer that utilizes the geometric phase of spin redirection is proposed. The degree of nulling is determined by beam collimation and angular orientation of mirrors. Simulations and experiments are in reasonable agreement.

Polarization interferometric stellar coronagraph

A nulling stellar coronagraph based on polarization interferometry is proposed that has achromatic characteristics. The principle and the optical setup of the nulling stellar coronagraph are described. Experimental results with monochromatic and white light show the usefulness of the proposed method. A liquid-crystal device is used as a four-quadrant polarization mask, which is the key element of a polarization interferometric stellar coronagraph.