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High Contrast Vacuum Nuller Testbed (VNT) Contrast, Performance and Null ControlHerein we report on our Visible Nulling Coronagraph high-contrast result of 109 contrast averaged over a focal planeregion extending from 14 D with the Vacuum Nuller Testbed (VNT) in a vibration isolated vacuum chamber. TheVNC is a hybrid interferometriccoronagraphic approach for exoplanet science. It operates with high Lyot stopefficiency for filled, segmented and sparse or diluted-aperture telescopes, thereby spanning the range of potential futureNASA flight telescopes. NASAGoddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has a well-established effort to develop the VNCand its technologies, and has developed an incremental sequence of VNC testbeds to advance this approach and itsenabling technologies. These testbeds have enabled advancement of high-contrast, visible light, nulling interferometry tounprecedented levels. The VNC is based on a modified Mach-Zehnder nulling interferometer, with a W configurationto accommodate a hex-packed MEMS based deformable mirror, a coherent fiber bundle and achromatic phase shifters.We give an overview of the VNT and discuss the high-contrast laboratory results, the optical configuration, criticaltechnologies and null sensing and control.
Document ID
20140005998
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
doi:10.1117/12.926889
Authors
Lyon, Richard G. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Clampin, Mark (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Petrone, Peter (Sigma Space Corp. Lanham, MD, United States)
Mallik, Udayan (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Madison, Timothy (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Bolcar, Matthew R. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
May 20, 2014
Publication Date
August 22, 2012
Publication Information
Publication: 2012 SPIE Proceedings
Publisher: SPIE
Volume: 8442
Issue: 844208-1
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN9420
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG09EQ01C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
visible nulling coronagraph
high contrast imaging
Exosolar planets

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