Imaging and nulling properties of sparse-aperture Fizeau interferometers

TL;DR

This paper provides analytical models for the imaging and nulling capabilities of multi-aperture Fizeau interferometers, aiding the design of future space missions for exoplanet detection.

Contribution

It introduces a formalism for PSF and FoV analysis, including nulling performance, applicable to both imaging and nulling Fizeau interferometers, with practical design insights.

Findings

Analytical expressions for PSF and FoV derived and numerically validated.

Nulling efficiency is limited to very short baselines.

Two improved nulling designs are briefly discussed.

Abstract

In this communication are presented rigorous and approximate analytical expressions of the Point Spread Function (PSF) and Field of View (FoV) achievable by multi-aperture Fizeau interferometers, either of the imaging or nulling types. The described formalism can be helpful for dimensioning future space missions in search of habitable extra-solar planets. Herein the characteristics of PSF and FoV are derived from simple analytical expressions that are further computed numerically in order to evidence the critical role of pupil re-imaging along the interferometer arms. The formalism is also well suited to simulating pseudo-images generated by a nulling Fizeau interferometer, and numerical computations demonstrate that it is only efficient for very short baselines. Finally, two different designs improving the nulling capacities of such exoplanet observing instruments are briefly presented and discussed