Telescope design for direct imaging of extra-solar planets

Paul N. Robb; Lothar W. Bandermann; Bernhard M. Haisch

doi:10.1117/12.324481

28 August 1998 Telescope design for direct imaging of extrasolar planets

Paul N. Robb, Lothar W. Bandermann, Bernhard M. Haisch

Proceedings Volume 3356, Space Telescopes and Instruments V; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.324481
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 1998, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

We report on the design of a single 1.5-2.0-meter orbiting telescope capable of direct imaging of Jupiter-class planets around solar-type stars at a distance of up to 10 parsecs. Unlike previous designs, our telescope would operate in the visible spectrum, measuring reflected light to maximize angular resolution. The telescope would achieve a contrast of up to 10 orders of magnitude by utilizing a combination of superpolished low-scattering mirror surfaces, Gregorian telescope design with field and Lyot stops, and low-loss apodization to control diffraction. Calculations indicate that the system should reliably detect Jupiter-class planets around solar-class stars at angular separations of 0.5 arcsec. Such a single-telescope system would fit within the constraints of a Discovery-level NASA program and would serve as a pathfinder for large space-based interferometric systems.

Citation Download Citation

Paul N. Robb, Lothar W. Bandermann, and Bernhard M. Haisch "Telescope design for direct imaging of extrasolar planets", Proc. SPIE 3356, Space Telescopes and Instruments V, (28 August 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.324481

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