Numerical modeling of the proposed WFIRST-AFTA coronagraphs and their predicted performances

John E. Krist; Bijan Nemati; Bertrand P. Mennesson

doi:10.1117/1.JATIS.2.1.011003

28 October 2015 Numerical modeling of the proposed WFIRST-AFTA coronagraphs and their predicted performances

John E. Krist, Bijan Nemati, Bertrand P. Mennesson

Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, Vol. 2, Issue 1, 011003 (October 2015). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.2.1.011003

Abstract

The WFIRST-AFTA 2.37 m telescope will provide the opportunity to host a coronagraph for the imaging and spectroscopy of planets and disks in the next decade. The telescope, however, is not ideal, given its obscured aperture. Only recently have coronagraph designs been thoroughly investigated that can efficiently work with this configuration. Three coronagraph designs, the hybrid Lyot, shaped pupil, and phase-induced amplitude apodization complex mask coronagraph have been selected for further development by the Astrophysics Focused Telescope Asset project. Real-world testbed demonstrations of these have just begun, so for now, the most reliable means of evaluating their potential performance comes from numerical modeling incorporating diffraction propagation, realistic system models, and simulated wavefront sensing and control. Here, we present the methods of performance evaluation and results for the current coronagraph designs.

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John E. Krist, Bijan Nemati, and Bertrand P. Mennesson "Numerical modeling of the proposed WFIRST-AFTA coronagraphs and their predicted performances," Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems 2(1), 011003 (28 October 2015). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.2.1.011003

Published: 28 October 2015

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