Wavefront error correction and Earth-like planet detection by Self-Coherent Camera in space

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the Self-Coherent Camera technique can effectively measure and correct wavefront errors in space telescopes, enhancing the detection of Earth-like exoplanets through numerical simulations.

Contribution

It introduces the use of the Self-Coherent Camera for wavefront error correction and Earth-like planet detection in space telescopes, showing its advantages over traditional methods.

Findings

Successful numerical simulation of Earth-like planet detection

Effective wavefront error estimation directly from science images

Potential application for future space telescopes and E-ELT EPICS

Abstract

In the context of exoplanet detection, the performance of coronagraphs is limited by wavefront errors. To efficiently correct for these aberrations with a deformable mirror, it is mandatory to measure them using the science detector with a very high accuracy. The Self-Coherent Camera which is based on light incoherence between star and its environment enables an estimation of these wavefront errors. That estimation is directly derived from the encoded speckles in the science image. This avoids differential errors due to beam separation and non common optics. Earth-like planet detection is demonstrated by numerical simulations under realistic assumptions for a space telescope. The Self-Coherent Camera is an attractive technique for future space telescopes. It is also one of the techniques under investigation for the E-ELT planet finder so-called EPICS.