Un coronographe interf\'erentiel achromatique coaxial

On-axis achromatic interfero-coronagraph. We present a new type of stellar interfero-coronagraph, the "CIAXE", which is a variant of the "AIC", the Achromatic Interfero-Coronagraph [3,4]. The CIAXE is characterized by a very simple, compact and fully coaxial optical combination. Indeed, contrarily to the classical AIC which has a Michelson interferometer structure, the CIAXE delivers its output beam on the same axis as the input beam. This will ease its insertion in the focal instrumentation of existing telescopes or next generation ones. Such a device could be a step forward in the field of instrumental search for exoplanets. ----- Dans le but deparvenir \`a l'imagerie \`a haute dynamique d'objets comme les exoplan\`etes, nous pr\'esentons ici un nouveau concept de coronographe stellaire interf\'erentiel, le "CIAXE". Il est d\'eriv\'e du "CIA", le Coronographe Interf\'erentiel Achromatique. Le CIAXE se distingue de son pr\'ed\'ecesseur par une combinaison optique originale, simplifi\'ee, tr\`es compacte et totalement coaxiale. En effet, \`a la diff\'erence du CIA classique qui est d\'eriv\'e de l'interf\'erom\`etre de Michelson, le CIAXE d\'elivre son faisceau de sortie sur le m\^eme axe que le faisceau d'entr\'ee, ce qui facilitera grandement son insertion au sein de l'instrumentation focale d'un t\'elescope. Un tel dispositif pourrait constituer une avanc\'ee en mati\`ere d'instrumentation focale pour la recherche d'exoplan\`etes

Exo-zodiacal disk mapper: a space interferometer to detect and map zodiacal disks around nearby stars

We propose a concept for a space mission designed to make a survey of potential zodiacal dust disks around nearby stars in the mid-IR. We show that a 10-meter baseline nulling interferometer with two 0.6-meter apertures located in a 1 X 1 AU heliocentric orbit would allow for the survey of about 400 stars in the solar neighborhood and permit a first order determination of the disk inclination and of the dust density and temperature radius dependence. The high dynamic range of the instrument may also be used to study an additional astrophysical phenomena. Beyond its own scientific merit, such a mission would also serve as a technological precursor to a larger interferometer of the type being considered for the detection of earth-like planets

Tests of achromatic phase shifters performed on the SYNAPSE test bench: a progress report

The achromatic phase shifter (APS) is a component of the Bracewell nulling interferometer studied in preparation for future space missions (viz. Darwin/TPF-I) focusing on spectroscopic study of Earth-like exo-planets. Several possible designs of such an optical subsystem exist. Four approaches were selected for further study. Thales Alenia Space developed a dielectric prism APS. A focus crossing APS prototype was developed by the OCA, Nice, France. A field reversal APS prototype was prepared by the MPIA in Heidelberg, Germany. Centre Spatial de Li\`ege develops a concept based on Fresnel's rhombs. This paper presents a progress report on the current work aiming at evaluating these prototypes on the SYNAPSE test bench at the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale in Orsay, France

Imaging simulations of selected science with the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer

We present simulated observations of surface features on Red Supergiant (RSG) stars and clumpy dust structures surrounding Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) with the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI). These represent two of the classes of astrophysical targets enumerated in the MROI Key Science Mission that are typical of the types of complex astrophysical phenomena that the MROI has been designed to image. The simulations are based on source structures derived from recent theoretical models and include both random and systematic noise on the measured Fourier data (visibility amplitudes and closure phases) consistent with our expectations for typical such targets observed with the MROI. Image reconstructions, obtained using the BSMEM imaging package, are presented for 4-, 6- and 8- telescope implementations of the array. Although a rudimentary imaging capability is demonstrated with only 4 telescopes, the detailed features of targets are only reliably determined when at least 6 telescopes are present. By the tine 8 telescope are used, the reconstructed images are sufficiently faithful to allow the discrimination between competing models, confirming the design goal of the MROI, i.e. to offer model-independent near-infrared imaging on sub-milliarcsecond scales

The Achromatic Interfero Coronagraph

We report on the Achromatic Interfero Coronagraph, a focal imaging device which aims at rejecting the energy contribution of a point-like source set on-axis, so as to make detectable its angularly-close environment (applicable to stellar environment: circumstellar matter, faint companions, planetary systems, but also conceivably to Active Galatic Nucleii and multiple asteroids). With AIC, starlight rejection is based on destructive interference, which allows exploration of the star's neighbouring at angular resolution better than the diffraction limit of the hosting telescope. Thanks to the focus crossing property of light, rejection is achromatic thus yielding a large spectral bandwidth of work. Descriptions and comments are given regarding the principle, the device itself, the constraints and limitations, and the theoretical performance. Results are presented which demonstrate the close-sensing capability and which show images of a companion obtained in laboratory and 'on the sky' as well. A short pictorial description of alternative AIC concepts, CIAXE and Open-Air CIAXE, currently under study, is given

Opto-thermo-mechanical numerical simulations of 3 different concepts of infrared achromatic phase shifters

The Darwin/TPF mission aims at detecting directly extra solar planets. It is based on the nulling interferometry, concept proposed by Bracewell in 1978, and developed since 1995 in several European and American laboratories. One of the key optical devices for this technique is the achromatic phase shifter (APS). This optical component is designed to produce a π phase shift over the whole Darwin spectral range (i.e. 6-18 μm), and will be experimentally tested on the NULLTIMATE consortium nulling test bench (Labèque et al). Three different concepts of APS are being simulated: dispersive plates focus crossing and field reversal. In this paper, we show how thermal, mechanical and optical models are merged into a single robust model, allowing a global numerical simulation of the optical component performances. We show how these simulations help us to optimizing the design and present results of the numerical model

Exo-zodiacal disk mapper: a space interferometer to detect and map zodiacal disks around nearby stars

We propose a concept for a space mission designed to make a survey of potential zodiacal dust disks around nearby stars in the mid-IR. We show that a 10-meter baseline nulling interferometer with two 0.6-meter apertures located in a 1 X 1 AU heliocentric orbit would allow for the survey of about 400 stars in the solar neighborhood and permit a first order determination of the disk inclination and of the dust density and temperature radius dependence. The high dynamic range of the instrument may also be used to study an additional astrophysical phenomena. Beyond its own scientific merit, such a mission would also serve as a technological precursor to a larger interferometer of the type being considered for the detection of earth-like planets

Darwin -— an experimental astronomy mission to search for extrasolar planets

As a response to ESA call for mission concepts for its Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 plan, we propose a mission called Darwin. Its primary goal is the study of terrestrial extrasolar planets and the search for life on them. In this paper, we describe different characteristics of the instrument

AMBER : a near infrared focal instrument for the VLTI

10 pagesInternational audienceAMBER is the General User near-infrared focal instrument of the Very Large Telescope interferometer. Its specifications are based on three key programs on Young Stellar Objects, Active Galactic Nuclei central regions, masses and spectra of hot Extra Solar Planets. It has an imaging capacity because it combines up to three beams and very high accuracy measurement are expected from the spatial filtering of beams by single mode fibers and the comparison of measurements made simultaneously in different spectral channels

Caractérisation et optimisation d'un interféromètre à frange sombre et à bande large

NICE-BU Sciences (060882101) / SudocSudocFranceF