A high dynamic-range instrument for SPICA for coronagraphic observation of exoplanets and monitoring of transiting exoplanets

TL;DR

This paper introduces a high dynamic-range instrument for the SPICA space telescope, enabling direct imaging and spectroscopy of exoplanets and monitoring transiting planets in infrared, with recent technical advancements and testing results.

Contribution

It presents a novel high dynamic-range coronagraph instrument design for SPICA, including new mask configurations, wavefront correction methods, and initial testing outcomes.

Findings

Successful testing of MEMS deformable mirrors for launch durability

Design of a binary-shaped pupil mask coronagraph with darkness constraints

Development of a passive wavefront correction mirror without actuators

Abstract

This paper, first, presents introductory reviews of the Space Infrared Telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA) mission and the SPICA Coronagraph Instrument (SCI). SPICA will realize a 3m class telescope cooled to 6K in orbit. The launch of SPICA is planned to take place in FY2018. The SPICA mission provides us with a unique opportunity to make high dynamic-range observations because of its large telescope aperture, high stability, and the capability for making infrared observations from deep space. The SCI is a high dynamic-range instrument proposed for SPICA. The primary objectives for the SCI are the direct coronagraphic detection and spectroscopy of Jovian exoplanets in the infrared region, while the monitoring of transiting planets is another important target owing to the non-coronagraphic mode of the SCI. Then, recent technical progress and ideas in conceptual studies are presented, which can potentially enhance the performance of the instrument: the designs of an integral 1-dimensional binary-shaped pupil mask coronagraph with general darkness constraints, a concentric ring mask considering the obscured pupil for surveying a wide field, and a spectral disperser for simultaneous wide wavelength coverage, and the first results of tests of the toughness of MEMS deformable mirrors for the rocket launch are introduced, together with a description of a passive wavefront correction mirror using no actuator.