MDE-Infrared Adaptive Nulling for the Detection of Earthlike Exoplanets

摘要

EvDEence of the habitability of nearby exoplanets could be found with future space missions using the technique of nulling interferometry. A nulling interferometer selectively suppresses the glare of starlight while allowing the light from planets to be detected. Here we report the first demonstrations of broadband mDE-infrared nulling at the level required to enable such a space mission. In three separate 6 hr measurements, mDE-infrared nulls were demonstrated at a mean level less than 1.0 x 10(-5) using a 34% bandwDEth centered at a wavelength of 10 mu m. This was accomplished by "adaptive nulling," in which a deformable mirror is tuned to minimize wavelength-dependent phase and intensity differences in the interferometer.