Demonstration of High Contrast Nulling Interferometry in the Thermal Infrared
Abstract
Projects of space interferometers dedicated to the detection and analysis of extrasolar planets (DARWIN in Europe, TPF in the United States) are based on the nulling interferometry concept. This concept has been proposed by Bracewell in 1979 [1] but has never been demonstrated with high values of rejection, in the thermal infrared range, where the planet detection should be performed (6-18 μm). We have thus built a two-beam laboratory interferometer to validate this concept in a monochromatic case (at 10 μm). We present the principle of the experimental bench and its realisation and several problems we had to face. We also present the results obtained with this interferometer and future plan.
- Publication:
-
GENIE - DARWIN Workshop - Hunting for Planets
- Pub Date:
- March 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003ESASP.522E..11O