Development of Coronagraphs for Exoplanet Detection with SPHERE
Abstract
Although several projects are ongoing to build instruments dedicated to the direct detection of extrasolar giant planets, current telescopes and instruments are still of interest to develop and test advanced techniques which will be eventually used on planet finder instruments. In 2003, a Four Quadrant Phase Mask (4QPM) was installed in NACO at the VLT. Commissioning has proven the performance of this system which is obviously limited by the level of AO correction. However, interesting results were obtained on circumstellar disks (Riaud et al. 2006, Boccaletti et al. 2007, in preparation) as on Active Galactic Nuclei (Gratadour et al. 2005). After a brief reminder of these results we will introduce the new concept of 4QPM implemented in February 2007 on NACO and designed to be operated in combination with the NACO SDI (Simultaneous Differential Imaging) system. Commissioning data obtained with an artificial source and natural stars will be presented as potentially interesting results on AB Dor C.
- Publication:
-
In the Spirit of Bernard Lyot: The Direct Detection of Planets and Circumstellar Disks in the 21st Century
- Pub Date:
- June 2007
- Bibcode:
- 2007lyot.confE..39B