Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
12:22
Multimodal Volumetric Retinal Imaging by Oblique Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (oSLO) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Published on: August 4, 2018
External occulter laboratory demonstrator for the forthcoming formation flying coronagraphs.
Federico Landini1, Sébastien Vives, Mélanie Venet
1Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy. flandini@arcetri.astro.it
Applied Optics
|December 24, 2011
Summary
Researchers tested a new coronagraph demonstrator for formation flight missions. This research confirms findings on smaller coronagraphs and offers insights into optimizing occulter geometry for future solar observation spacecraft.
Area of Science:
- Space optics and instrumentation
- Solar physics
- Astrophysics
Background:
- External occulter geometry is critical for solar coronagraph performance.
- Formation flight coronagraphs offer improved capabilities but pose mechanical and alignment challenges.
- Minimizing diffraction from occulter edges is essential for sensitive solar observations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and test a demonstrator for a formation flight solar coronagraph.
- To investigate the optimization of external occulter geometry for enhanced solar imaging.
- To validate laboratory test results with existing research on smaller coronagraphs.
Main Methods:
- Design of a linear edge coronagraph demonstrator.
- Laboratory testing of the demonstrator's optical performance.
- Analysis of occulter geometry and tolerance optimization.
Main Results:
- Confirmed findings from previous studies on smaller coronagraphs.
- Provided data on the geometry and tolerances for occulter optimization.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of testing coronagraph components in a laboratory setting.
Conclusions:
- The study validates the optimization approach for coronagraph occulter geometry.
- Results contribute to the development of next-generation formation flying solar coronagraphs.
- Further research may be needed to extrapolate findings to circular occulters.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Flame Photometry: Lab
In a flame photometer, when a solution like potassium chloride is aspirated into the flame, the solvent evaporates, leaving behind dehydrated salt. This salt dissociates into free gaseous atoms in their ground state. Some of these atoms absorb energy from the flame, leading to their excitation. The excited atoms return to the ground state, emitting photons at characteristic wavelengths. Because only electronic transitions are involved, the resulting emission lines are very narrow. The intensity...
01:17Accessory Structures of the Eye
Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...
01:29Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Lab
AES is a powerful analytical technique, especially effective when used with plasma sources, producing abundant spectra in characteristic emission lines. The Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), in particular, yields superior quantitative analytical data due to its high stability, low noise, low background, and minimal interferences under optimal experimental conditions. However, newer air-operated microwave sources are emerging as promising alternatives that could be more cost-effective than...
01:22Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
The instrumentation of atomic emission spectrometry (AES) involves various components, including atomization devices that convert samples into gas-phase atoms and ions. There are two main types of atomization devices: continuous and discrete atomizers. Continuous atomizers, like plasmas and flames, introduce samples in a constant stream, while discrete atomizers inject individual samples using syringes or autosamplers. The most common discrete atomizer is the electrothermal atomizer.
01:16Focusing of Light in the Eye
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...