Contrast Enhancement of Binary Star System Using an Optical Vortex Coronagraph

Authors :: Swartzlander, Grover A.
Ford, Erin L.
Abdul-Malik, Rukiah S.
Close, Laird M.
Peters, Mary Anne
Palacios, David M.
Wilson, Daniel W.
Publication Year :: 2008
Abstract: Using an optical vortex coronagraph and simple adaptive optics techniques we have made the first convincing demonstration of an optical vortex coronagraph that is coupled to a star gazing telescope. In particular we suppressed by 97% the primary star of a barely resolvable binary system, Cor Caroli, having an effective angular separation of only 1.4 lambda/D. The secondary star suffered no suppression.<br />Keywords: Coronagraph, Optical Vortex, High Contrast Imaging, Binary Star, Extrasolar Planet, Fourier Optics, Electron Beam Lithography. 7 pages, 7 figures, 28 references