Fabrication experiments on supersmooth optics for extrasolar planet detectionThe direct detection of extrasolar planets by imaging will require reductions in scattered and diffracted light by factors in excess of 1000 within one arcsecond of a bright source. While diffraction can be reduced by a number of approaches, small angle scatter can only be reduced by controlling midspatial frequency figure errors. The surface requirements are reviewed and their meaning when compared to the data base of existing mirrors is considered. Experiments are discribed that were successful in reducing midspatial frequency figure so that the scatter level was 500 times less than diffraction for a 25-cm spherical mirror.
Document ID
19900051978
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ftaclas, C. (Perkin-Elmer Corp. Danbury, CT, United States)
Krim, M. H. (Perkin-Elmer Corp. Danbury, CT, United States)