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A microstructured wavefront filter for the Darwin nulling interferometer

A microstructured wavefront filter for the Darwin nulling interferometer
A microstructured wavefront filter for the Darwin nulling interferometer
The European Space Agency's space-based Darwin mission aims to directly detect extrasolar Earth-like planets using nulling interferometry. However, in order to accomplish this using current optical technology, the interferometer input beams must be filtered to remove local wavefront errors. Although short lengths of single-mode fibre are ideal wavefront filters, Darwin's operating wavelength range of 4 - 20µm presents real challenges for optical fibre technology. In addition to the fact that step-index fibres only offer acceptable coupling efficiency over about one octave of optical bandwidth, very few suitable materials are transparent within this wavelength range. Microstructured optical fibres offer two unique properties that hold great promise for this application; they can be made from a single-material and offer endlessly single-mode guidance. Here we explore the advantages of using a microstructured fibre as a broadband wavefront filter for 4 - 20 µm.
Flanagan, J.C.
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Richardson, D.J.
ebfe1ff9-d0c2-4e52-b7ae-c1b13bccdef3
Foster, M.J.
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Bakalski, I.
5ed89b13-833e-4a0a-b371-811afec6c9df
Flanagan, J.C.
36ab6039-91ad-4fe1-98a6-177d730ddb4d
Richardson, D.J.
ebfe1ff9-d0c2-4e52-b7ae-c1b13bccdef3
Foster, M.J.
c7ef6af9-a34f-4f01-8ba0-729b26e311a3
Bakalski, I.
5ed89b13-833e-4a0a-b371-811afec6c9df

Flanagan, J.C., Richardson, D.J., Foster, M.J. and Bakalski, I. (2006) A microstructured wavefront filter for the Darwin nulling interferometer. 6th International Conference on Space Optics, Noordwijk, The Netherlands. 27 - 30 Jun 2006. 8 pp .

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Other)

Abstract

The European Space Agency's space-based Darwin mission aims to directly detect extrasolar Earth-like planets using nulling interferometry. However, in order to accomplish this using current optical technology, the interferometer input beams must be filtered to remove local wavefront errors. Although short lengths of single-mode fibre are ideal wavefront filters, Darwin's operating wavelength range of 4 - 20µm presents real challenges for optical fibre technology. In addition to the fact that step-index fibres only offer acceptable coupling efficiency over about one octave of optical bandwidth, very few suitable materials are transparent within this wavelength range. Microstructured optical fibres offer two unique properties that hold great promise for this application; they can be made from a single-material and offer endlessly single-mode guidance. Here we explore the advantages of using a microstructured fibre as a broadband wavefront filter for 4 - 20 µm.

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e-pub ahead of print date: June 2006
Venue - Dates: 6th International Conference on Space Optics, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 2006-06-27 - 2006-06-30

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 47853
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/47853
PURE UUID: b362ac7e-1ea5-4924-af01-b20ea482961a
ORCID for D.J. Richardson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7751-1058

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 15 Aug 2007
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:40

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Contributors

Author: J.C. Flanagan
Author: D.J. Richardson ORCID iD
Author: M.J. Foster
Author: I. Bakalski

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