The Achromatic Interfero Coronagraph

TL;DR

The Achromatic Interfero Coronagraph is a device that uses destructive interference to block starlight, enabling high-resolution imaging of nearby faint objects across a broad spectrum, demonstrated through laboratory and on-sky results.

Contribution

This paper introduces the Achromatic Interfero Coronagraph, a novel high-contrast imaging device that achieves achromatic starlight rejection for improved astronomical observations.

Findings

Demonstrated close-sensing capability in laboratory and on-sky tests

Achieved angular resolution better than the diffraction limit

Presented alternative AIC concepts under study

Abstract

We report on the Achromatic Interfero Coronagraph, a focal imaging device which aims at rejecting the energy contribution of a point-like source set on-axis, so as to make detectable its angularly-close environment (applicable to stellar environment: circumstellar matter, faint companions, planetary systems, but also conceivably to Active Galatic Nucleii and multiple asteroids). With AIC, starlight rejection is based on destructive interference, which allows exploration of the star's neighbouring at angular resolution better than the diffraction limit of the hosting telescope. Thanks to the focus crossing property of light, rejection is achromatic thus yielding a large spectral bandwidth of work. Descriptions and comments are given regarding the principle, the device itself, the constraints and limitations, and the theoretical performance. Results are presented which demonstrate the close-sensing capability and which show images of a companion obtained in laboratory and 'on the sky' as well. A short pictorial description of alternative AIC concepts, CIAXE and Open-Air CIAXE, currently under study, is given.