Performance of a coronagraph on the AEOS 3.6-m adaptive optics telescope

Patrick T. Ryan; Scott Milster; Jack D. Drummond

doi:10.1117/12.457648

3 March 2003 Performance of coronagraph on AEOS 3.6-m adaptive optics telescope

Patrick T. Ryan, Scott Milster, Jack D. Drummond

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4860, High-Contrast Imaging for Exo-Planet Detection; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.457648
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2002, Waikoloa, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

Adaptive optics (AO) is useful in correcting the blurring effects of the atmosphere responsible for most energy in the halo of the point spread function. A coronagraph can further enhance faint companion searches by reducing the diffraction rings surrounding a well corrected image peak. Here, we use a coronagraph on the Advanced Electro-Optical System (AEOS) at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex (MSSC) to test these benefits. The spatial characteristics of the scattered energy produced at AEOS are explored from the viewpoint of searching for faint stellar companions. The benefit of using AO is found to be 3 to 4.5 stellar magnitudes for a ten second integration time at 1 to 2 microns, with the most benefit at radial distances less than one arcsecond. More advanced AO/coronagraphic systems should be able to produce even better results. Using AO and a coronagraph should be strongly considered when attempting to image faint companions.

Citation Download Citation

Patrick T. Ryan, Scott Milster, and Jack D. Drummond "Performance of coronagraph on AEOS 3.6-m adaptive optics telescope", Proc. SPIE 4860, High-Contrast Imaging for Exo-Planet Detection, (3 March 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.457648

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