Hubble Extra Solar Planet InterferometerThis paper describes a proposed third-generation Hubble instrument for extra-solar planet detection, the Hubble Extra-Solar Planet Interferometer (HESPI). This instrument would be able to achieve starlight cancellation at the 10 exp 6 to 10 exp 8 level, given a stellar wavefront with phase errors comparable to the present Hubble telescope wavefront. At 10 exp 6 starlight cancellation, HESPI would be able to detect a Jupiter-like planet next to a star at a distance of about 10 parsec, for which there are about 400 candidate stars. This paper describes a novel approach for starlight suppression, using a combination of active control and single-mode spatial filters, to achieve starlight suppression far below the classical limit set by scattering due to microsurface imperfections. In preliminary lab experiments, suppression by a factor of 40 below the classical scatter limit due to optical wavefront errors has been demonstrated.
Document ID
19920062556
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Shao, M. (JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1991
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments