Diffraction-Based Sensitivity Analysis of Apodized Pupil Mapping Systems

Abstract

Pupil mapping is a promising and unconventional new method for high contrast imaging being considered for terrestrial exoplanet searches. It employs two (or more) specially designed aspheric mirrors to create a high-contrast amplitude profile across the telescope pupil that does not appreciably attenuate amplitude. As such, it reaps significant benefits in light collecting efficiency and inner working angle, both critical parameters for terrestrial planet detection. While much has been published on various aspects of pupil mapping systems, the problem of sensitivity to wavefront aberrations remains an open question. In this paper, we present an efficient method for computing the sensitivity of a pupil mapped system to Zernike aberrations. We then use this method to study the sensitivity of a particular pupil mapping system and compare it to the concentric-ring shaped pupil coronagraph. In particular, we quantify how contrast and inner working angle degrade with increasing Zernike order and rms amplitude. These results have obvious ramifications for the stability requirements and overall design of a planet-finding observatory.

29 pages, 12 figures, revision of previously submitted ApJ paper

References in corpus (5)

• Exoplanets imaging with a Phase-Induced Amplitude Apodization Coronagraph - I. Principle
• Rectangular-Mask Coronagraphs for High-Contrast Imaging
• Pupil Mapping in 2-D for High-Contrast Imaging
• Eighth-Order Image Masks for Terrestrial Planet Finding
• Diffraction Analysis of 2-D Pupil Mapping for High-Contrast Imaging

Cited by in corpus (10)

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• Improved achromatization of phase mask coronagraphs using colored apodization
• End-to-end numerical modeling of the Roman Space Telescope coronagraph
• Imaging exoplanets with coronagraphic instruments
• Active compensation of aperture discontinuities for WFIRST-AFTA: analytical and numerical comparison of propagation methods and preliminary results with a WFIRST-AFTA-like pupil
• Propagation of Aberrations through Phase Induced Amplitude Apodization coronagraph
• Design of mirrors and apodization functions in phase-induced amplitude apodization (PIAA) systems
• Demonstration of broadband contrast at 1.2 $\lambda$/D and greater for the EXCEDE Starlight Suppression System