Development of stellar coronagraphs for an infrared space telescope with the goal of characterizing extrasolar planets

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24840049
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Astronomy
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
• Principal Investigator: HAZE Kanae 独立行政法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 宇宙航空プロジェクト研究員 (50635612)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-08-31 – 2014-03-31
• Keywords: 光赤外天文学 / コロナグラフ

Research Abstract

For an important challenge of direct observation of exoplanets using a coronagraph applicable to an infrared space telescope, we developed a low temperature vacuum chamber and an experimental system inside the chamber. Furthermore, we developed new designed pupil masks for practical use and carried out the coronagraph experiments using the masks at visible wavelength. As the result, we achieved a necessary contrast for the direct observation of exoplanets at infrared wavelength. Additionally, we simulated the wavefront error, which is great enemy of a coronagraph, and the detection capability of habitable zone object.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] A laboratory experiment for a new free-standing pupil mask coronagraph (2012)
  • Author(s): Haze, K. ; Enya, K.; Kotani, T.; Abe, L.; Nakagawa, T.; Matsuhara, H.; Sato, T.; Tamamuro, T.
  • Journal Title: Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave. Proceedings of the SPIE Volume: vol. 8442 Pages: pp.15
  • DOI: 10.1117/12.925845
• [Journal Article] Laboratory Experiments using Binary Pupil Masks for SPICA Coronagraphic Instrument
  • Author(s): Haze, K.; Enya, K.; Kotani, T.; Kaneda, H.; Oyabu, S.; Ishihara, D.; Oseki, S.; Abe, L.; Tamamuro, T.
  • Journal Title: ASP Conference Series Volume: (in press)
• [Presentation] Laboratory experiments with the free-standing binary-pupil mask coronagraphs for SPICA,"Exoplanets and Disks : Their Formation and DiversityII" (2013)
  • Author(s): Haze, K., et al.
  • Organizer: The 5^<th> Subaru International Conference
  • Place of Presentation: ハワイ
  • Year and Date: 20131208-12
• [Presentation] Study of Exoplanet using TMT-MICHI with a coronagraph (2013)
  • Author(s): Haze, K., et al.
  • Organizer: TMT Science and Instrumentation Workshop
  • Place of Presentation: 東京
  • Year and Date: 20131016-17
• [Presentation] SPICA望遠鏡搭載に向けた瞳遮蔽対応コロナグラフマスクの実証 (2013)
  • Author(s): 櫨香奈恵,他
  • Organizer: 2013年秋季天文年会
  • Place of Presentation: 宮城
  • Year and Date: 20130910-12
• [Presentation] Laboratory experiments for binary-pupil mask coronagraphs for the SCI (2013)
  • Author(s): Haze, K., et al.
  • Organizer: From Exoplanets to Distant Galaxies : SPICA's new window on the Cool Universe
  • Place of Presentation: 東京
  • Year and Date: 20130618-21
• [Presentation] SPICA望遠鏡搭載に向けた自立型リング瞳マスクコロナグラフの開発 (2013)
  • Author(s): 櫨香奈恵,他
  • Organizer: 2013年春季天文年会
  • Place of Presentation: 埼玉
  • Year and Date: 20130320-23
• [Presentation] 太陽系外惑星の直接観測に向けたバイナリ瞳マスクコロナグラフの開発 (2013)
  • Author(s): 櫨香奈恵
  • Organizer: 日本学術会議「第3回先端フォトニクスシンポジウム」
  • Place of Presentation: 東京
  • Year and Date: 2013-04-26
• [Presentation] SPICA望遠鏡搭載に向けた自立型瞳マスクコロナグラフの開発 (2012)
  • Author(s): 櫨香奈恵,他
  • Organizer: 2012年秋季天文年会
  • Place of Presentation: 大分
  • Year and Date: 20120918-22