Performance of the Cophasing System of Persee, a Dynamic Nulling Demonstrator
Abstract
Spectral characterization of exoplanets can be made by nulling interferometers. In this context, several projects have been proposed such as DARWIN/TPF-I, FKSI, PEGASE, and ALADDIN. To stabilize the beams with the required nanometric accuracy, a cophasing system is required, made of a piston/tip/tilt actuator on each arm and a piston/tip-tilt sensor. The demonstration of the feasibility of such a cophasing system is a central issue. In this goal, a laboratory breadboard named PERSEE is under integration at Observatoire de Paris-Meudon. This paper describes the current status of PERSEE. We show that a cophasing at a subnanometric level has been reached, which allowed us to reach a monochromatic null depth of N=6.2×10-5 ± 6.3×10-6.
- Publication:
-
Pathways Towards Habitable Planets
- Pub Date:
- October 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010ASPC..430..460H