Unlocking stray light mysteries in the CoRot baffle with the time-of-flight method

Area of Science:

• Optical Engineering
• Space Systems Engineering
• Astrophysics Instrumentation

Background:

• Stray light (SL) significantly limits space telescope performance.
• Current methods struggle to isolate and identify individual SL contributors.
• Troubleshooting SL issues often relies on inefficient trial-and-error processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply and validate the time-of-flight (ToF) method for characterizing stray light in a complex space optical system.
• To differentiate intrinsic baffle stray light from experimental artifacts.
• To demonstrate the ToF method's capability in identifying specific SL sources and defects.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the time-of-flight (ToF) method with a pulsed laser and ultrafast sensor.
• Applied the ToF technique to the spare model of the CoRoT baffle.
• Measured individual stray light contributors over a dynamic range of 10^-11.

Main Results:

• Successfully measured individual stray light contributors in the CoRoT baffle model.
• Identified direct scattering on vane edges and two-step scattering paths.
• Differentiated intrinsic baffle stray light from experimental conditions, including air scattering, avoiding vacuum testing.
• Detected localized dust particles as a significant source of stray light.

Conclusions:

• The time-of-flight (ToF) method is effective for detailed stray light analysis in challenging space optical systems.
• ToF provides critical insights for defect identification and performance validation.
• This method reduces the need for costly and complex testing environments like vacuum chambers.