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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
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Shaping the Amplitude and Phase of Laser Beams by Using a Phase-only Spatial Light Modulator
Published on: January 28, 2019
Propagation of aberrations through phase-induced amplitude apodization coronagraph
Laurent Pueyo1, N Jeremy Kasdin, Stuart Shaklan
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, 366 Bloomberg Center 3400 N Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA. lap@pha.jhu.edu
Summary
We developed an analytical tool for phase-induced amplitude apodization (PIAA) coronagraphs used in exoplanet detection. This tool models optical aberrations and quantifies manufacturing requirements for PIAA mirrors, crucial for precise exoplanet imaging.
Area of Science:
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Optical Engineering
- Exoplanet Detection Technologies
Background:
- Exoplanet detection via coronagraphy demands precise optical modeling.
- Accurate aberration propagation and wavefront compensation simulations are vital for instrument error budgets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce an analytical tool for optical modeling in phase-induced amplitude apodization (PIAA) coronagraphs.
- To derive the chromaticity of the optical field within a PIAA coronagraph system.
- To quantify manufacturing requirements for PIAA mirrors based on wavefront correction.
Main Methods:
- Derived the analytical form for harmonic ripple propagation through a PIAA unit.
- Calculated the chromaticity of the field at various planes in the optical train.
- Simulated the chromatic response of a two-sequential-deformable mirror (DM) wavefront actuator.
Main Results:
- An analytical model for aberration propagation in PIAA coronagraphs was established.
- The chromaticity introduced by PIAA optics was precisely determined.
- Manufacturing tolerances for PIAA mirrors were quantified based on wavefront correction performance.
Conclusions:
- The developed analytical tool aids in specifying polishing requirements for PIAA coronagraph optics.
- This work is critical for designing robust coronagraphs for exoplanet detection.
- The findings provide essential data for the manufacturing of high-precision PIAA mirrors.
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