[en] Imaging Earth-like planets around sun-like stars has become one of the main science drivers for future space telescope missions. High-contrast imaging using a vortex coronagraph has proven to be a promising approach for achieving this goal. However, at the huge contrast levels required for future space-based telescopes the vectorial nature of the well-established vector vortex phase mask becomes a limiting factor, since it imprints phase ramps of opposite signs on the two circular polarizations. An alternative polarization-independent approach is using a scalar vortex phase mask, which affects both polarizations in the same way. The achromatic performance of scalar vortex phase masks for space-based applications has still to be improved, though. Metasurfaces provide a promising approach to implement a scalar vortex phase mask with relatively simple fabrication techniques. Their demonstrated ability to implement broadband phase and amplitude masks makes them a prime candidate for achieving achromatic performance in pursuit of the 10<SUP>−10</SUP> contrast limit required by NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory. We present a metasurface-based design of a scalar vortex phase mask providing a helical phase ramp across a large bandwidth. We first use rigorous coupled-wave analysis to create a library of square metasurface building blocks (nanoblocks) and choose an optimal set of nanoblock sizes providing broadband 2π phase coverage at a given nanoblock height. We then arrange the nanoblocks in a design providing a helical phase ramp and propagate the phase and transmission provided by the mask through a wavefront propagation software to obtain contrast curves at several wavelengths. Finally we apply electric field conjugation to dig a half-sided dark hole from 3-10 λ/D reaching 3.7 × 10<SUP>−9</SUP> contrast in 20% bandwidth.
Research center :
STAR - Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research - ULiège [BE]
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
König, Lorenzo ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophysique, géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Planetary & Stellar systems Imaging Laboratory
Palatnick, Skyler; University of California, Santa Barbara
Desai, Niyati; California Institute of Technology
Absil, Olivier ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophysique, géophysique et océanographie (AGO)
Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell; University of California, Santa Barbara
Mawet, Dimitri; California Institute of Technology
Language :
English
Title :
Metasurface-based scalar vortex phase mask in pursuit of 1e-10 contrast
Publication date :
05 October 2023
Event name :
SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications
Event organizer :
SPIE
Event place :
San Diego, United States
Event date :
20-24 August 2023
Event number :
12680
Audience :
International
Main work title :
Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets XI
Copyright 2023 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited. https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/12680/2676174/Metasurface-based-scalar-vortex-phase-mask-in-pursuit-of-1e/10.1117/12.2676174.short
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