A broadband scalar optical vortex coronagraph

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel broadband scalar optical vortex coronagraph that uses computer-generated phase gratings to achieve high contrast over a wide spectral bandwidth, demonstrating promising results for astronomical imaging.

Contribution

A new broadband scalar optical vortex coronagraph scheme employing phase gratings is experimentally demonstrated with high contrast and compact setup.

Findings

Achieves peak-to-peak attenuation below 1:1000 over 120 nm bandwidth.

Demonstrates an inner working angle of λ/D.

Provides a raw contrast of 11.5 magnitudes at 2λ/D.

Abstract

In recent years, new coronagraphic schemes have been proposed, the most promising being the optical vortex phase mask coronagraphs. In our work, a new scheme of broadband optical scalar vortex coronagraph is proposed and characterized experimentally in the laboratory. Our setup employs a pair of computer generated phase gratings (one of them containing a singularity) to control the chromatic dispersion of phase plates and achieves a constant peak-to-peak attenuation below 1:1000 over a bandwidth of 120 nm centered at 700 nm. An inner working angle of $\lambda$/D is demonstrated along with a raw contrast of 11.5\,magnitudes at 2$\lambda$/D. A more compact setup achieves a peak-to-peak attenuation below 1:1000 over a bandwidth of 60 nm with the other results remaining the same.