The MICADO first light imager for the ELT: MISTHIC simulation pipeline for the high contrast mode of MICADO

TL;DR

This paper introduces the MISTHIC simulation pipeline designed to model high contrast imaging modes of the MICADO instrument on the ELT, accounting for various aberrations and observing strategies to predict performance.

Contribution

The paper presents a new Python-based simulation pipeline that accurately models MICADO's high contrast imaging modes, including aberrations and observing conditions, for the first time.

Findings

Simulation of realistic image cubes for MICADO modes

Assessment of performance under various aberrations

Preparation tool for observational planning

Abstract

We present the Python pipeline that was developed to simulate the high contrast mode images of the MICADO instrument. This mode will comprise three classical Lyot coronagraphs with different occulting spot sizes, one vector apodized phase plate, and two sparse aperture masks. One critical aspect of these modes lies in their sensitivity to aberrations, requiring careful integration of non common path aberrations, as well as turbulent adaptive optics (AO) residuals. Besides, they will be operated following a specific observing strategy based on pupil tracking mode. For these reasons, we have developed the MICADO SimulaTor for HIgh Contrast (MISTHIC) pipeline to simulate realistic image cubes and derive the expected performance of these modes. Several sources of aberrations can be included: turbulent AO residuals, but also static or rotating aberrations, amplitude aberrations, simple Zernike screens... Including MICADO's specific features, such as the absence of atmospheric dispersion prior to the coronagraphic focal plane mask, our intent is to make this pipeline available to the community. This tool can be used to prepare scientific observations with the high contrast mode of MICADO, by predicting the performance to be expected within the most realistic assumptions.