Open AccessWide-band six-region phase mask coronagraph
Author(s) -
Fanzhen Hou,
Qing Cao,
Minning Zhu,
Ourui Ma
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.22.001884
Subject(s) - starlight , coronagraph , achromatic lens , optics , physics , phase (matter) , wavelength , exoplanet , apodization , astronomy , planet , stars , quantum mechanics
An achromatic six-region phase mask coronagraph, used for the detection of exoplanets, is proposed. The mask has six regions in angular direction and could work in wideband. Furthermore, a six-level phase mask, as an example of the six-region phase mask, is theoretically investigated. According to numerical simulations, this specific mask has a deep elimination of starlight, good performance of achromatism and small inner working angle. As a single phase mask, the ratio of the remaining starlight of the six-level phase mask to the total incident starlight is less than 0.001 when the wavelength is between 500 nm and 600 nm.