High angular resolution coronography for adaptive optics

TL;DR

This paper reviews high-angular resolution coronography in adaptive optics, discussing image formation, system implementation on VLT, and initial observations, highlighting its potential for detecting faint astronomical objects at diffraction-limited resolution.

Contribution

It provides an overview of stellar coronography at the diffraction limit, including simulations, system implementation, and first observational results on the VLT adaptive optics prototype.

Findings

Numerical simulations illustrate image formation at diffraction limit.

Implementation of coronograph on VLT prototype demonstrated feasibility.

First observations show potential for low-flux object detection.

Abstract

Recent adaptive optics systems in astronomy achieve high-angular resolution. With the extreme stability of the images, detection at very low fluxes can be reached using a coronograph at the diffraction limit of the telescopes. This paper is an overview of the issues of stellar coronography used at the diffraction limit. Image formation through such a system is illustrated by numerical simulations. The description of a coronograph implemented on the VLT adaptive optics prototype, COME-ON, is presented as well as the first observations.