Publications of Olivier Absil     Results 1-20 of 332. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10   Constraining the Orbit and Mass of epsilon Eridani b with Radial Velocities, Hipparcos IAD-Gaia DR2 Astrometry, and Multiepoch Vortex Coronagraphy Upper LimitsLlop-Sayson, Jorge; Wang, Jason J.; Ruffio, Jean-Baptiste et alin Astronomical Journal (2021), 162ϵ Eridani is a young planetary system hosting a complex multibelt debris disk and a confirmed Jupiter-like planet orbiting at 3.48 au from its host star. Its age and architecture are thus reminiscent of ... [more ▼]ϵ Eridani is a young planetary system hosting a complex multibelt debris disk and a confirmed Jupiter-like planet orbiting at 3.48 au from its host star. Its age and architecture are thus reminiscent of the early Solar System. The most recent study of Mawet et al., which combined radial-velocity data and Ms-band direct imaging upper limits, started to constrain the planet's orbital parameters and mass, but are still affected by large error bars and degeneracies. Here we make use of the most recent data compilation from three different techniques to further refine ϵ Eridani b's properties: RVs, absolute astrometry measurements from the Hipparcos and Gaia missions, and new Keck/NIRC2 Ms-band vortex coronagraph images. We combine this data in a Bayesian framework. We find a new mass, ${M}_{b}={0.66}_{-0.09}^{+0.12}$ M[SUB]Jup[/SUB], and inclination, $i=78.{81}_{-22.41\mathop{}\limits^{^\circ }}^{+29.34}$ , with at least a factor 2 of improvement over previous uncertainties. We also report updated constraints on the longitude of the ascending node, the argument of the periastron, and the time of periastron passage. With these updated parameters, we can better predict the position of the planet at any past and future epoch, which can greatly help define the strategy and planning of future observations and with subsequent data analysis. In particular, these results can assist the search for a direct detection with JWST and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's coronagraph instrument. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 13 (1 ULiège) Exoplanets with ELT-METIS. I. Estimating the direct imaging exoplanet yield around stars within 6.5 parsecsBowens, R.; Meyer, M. R.; Delacroix, Christian et alin Astronomy and Astrophysics (2021), 653Direct imaging is a powerful exoplanet discovery technique that is complementary to other techniques and offers great promise in the era of 30 m class telescopes. Space-based transit surveys have ... [more ▼]Direct imaging is a powerful exoplanet discovery technique that is complementary to other techniques and offers great promise in the era of 30 m class telescopes. Space-based transit surveys have revolutionized our understanding of the frequency of planets at small orbital radii around Sun-like stars. The next generation of extremely large ground-based telescopes will have the angular resolution and sensitivity to directly image planets with R < 4 R[SUB]⊕[/SUB] around the very nearest stars. Here, we predict yields from a direct imaging survey of a volume-limited sample of Sun-like stars with the Mid-Infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph (METIS) instrument, planned for the 39 m European Southern Observatory Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) that is expected to be operational towards the end of the decade. Using Kepler occurrence rates, a sample of stars with spectral types A-K within 6.5 pc, and simulated contrast curves based on an advanced model of what is achievable from coronagraphic imaging with adaptive optics, we estimated the expected yield from METIS using Monte Carlo simulations. We find the METIS expected yield of planets in the N2 band (10.10−12.40 μm) is 1.14 planets, which is greater than comparable observations in the L (3.70−3.95 μm) and M (4.70−4.90 μm) bands. We also determined a 24.6% chance of detecting at least one Jovian planet in the background limited regime assuming a 1 h integration. We calculated the yield per star and estimate optimal observing revisit times to increase the yield. We also analyzed a northern hemisphere version of this survey and found there are additional targets worth considering. In conclusion, we present an observing strategy aimed to maximize the possible yield for limited telescope time, resulting in 1.48 expected planets in the N2 band. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 15 (1 ULiège) High contrast imaging at 10 microns, a search for exoplanets around: Eps Indi A, Eps Eri, Tau Ceti, Sirius A and Sirius BPathak, P.; Petit dit de la Roche, D. J. M.; Kasper, M. et alin Astronomy and Astrophysics (2021), 652The direct imaging of rocky exoplanets is one of the major science goals for upcoming large telescopes. The contrast requirement for imaging such planets is challenging. However, the mid-IR (InfraRed ... [more ▼]The direct imaging of rocky exoplanets is one of the major science goals for upcoming large telescopes. The contrast requirement for imaging such planets is challenging. However, the mid-IR (InfraRed) regime provides the optimum contrast to directly detect the thermal signatures of exoplanets in our solar neighbourhood. We aim to exploit novel fast chopping techniques newly developed for astronomy with the aid of adaptive optics to look for thermal signatures of exoplanets around bright stars in the solar neighbourhood. We use the upgraded VISIR (Very Large Telescope Imager and Spectrometer for the mid-InfraRed) instrument with high contrast imaging (HCI) capability optimized for observations at 10~$\mu$m to look for exoplanets around five nearby ($d$ < 4 pc) stars. The instrument provides an improved signal-to-noise (S/N) by a factor of $\sim$4 in the N-band compared to standard VISIR for a given S/N and time. In this work we achieve a detection sensitivity of sub-mJy, which is sufficient to detect few Jupiter mass planets in nearby systems. Although no detections are made we achieve most sensitive limits within $<2''$ for all the observed targets compared to previous campaigns. For $\epsilon$ Indi A and $\epsilon$ Eri we achieve detection limits very close to the giant planets discovered by RV, with the limits on $\epsilon$ Indi A being the most sensitive to date. Our non-detection therefore supports an older age for $\epsilon$ Indi A. The results presented here show the promise for high contrast imaging and exoplanet detections in the mid-IR regime. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 30 (9 ULiège) Characterization of HD 206893 B from Near- to Thermal-infraredMeshkat, Tiffany; Gao, Peter; Lee, Eve J. et alin Astrophysical Journal (2021), 917HD 206893 B is a brown-dwarf companion orbiting inside the debris disk of its host star. We detect the brown dwarf in the Ms band using the Keck/NIRC2 instrument and vortex coronagraph. We measure its ... [more ▼]HD 206893 B is a brown-dwarf companion orbiting inside the debris disk of its host star. We detect the brown dwarf in the Ms band using the Keck/NIRC2 instrument and vortex coronagraph. We measure its magnitude to be ${Ms}={12.97}_{-0.11}^{0.10}$ . It is at an angular separation of 0"22 ± 0"03, and a position angle of 39.6° ± 5.4° east of north. Using this Ms-band measurement and the system age, we use three evolutionary models to estimate the mass to be 12-78 M[SUB]Jup[/SUB]. We analyze the atmospheric properties from 1-5 μm using a grid of simulated atmospheric models. We find that a sedimentation flux f[SUB]sed[/SUB] value ~0.2 provides the best fit to the data, suggesting high vertically extended clouds. This may be indicative of high-altitude grains or a circumplanetary disk. Our model radii and luminosities for the companion find the best fits are ages of <100 Myr and masses <20 M[SUB]Jup[/SUB], consistent with our mass estimate from the evolutionary models using the Ms-band data alone. We detect orbital motion of the brown dwarf around the host star in comparison to the discovery image and derive orbital parameters. Finally we analyze how the companion brown dwarf interacts with the debris disk by estimating the location of the chaotic zone around the brown dwarf using values derived from this study's estimated mass and orbital constraints. We find that the collisions within the debris belt are likely driven by secular perturbations from the brown dwarf, rather than self-stirring. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 12 (1 ULiège) A dusty filament and turbulent CO spirals in HD135344B - SAO206462Casassus, Simon; Christiaens, Valentin ; Carcamo, Miguel et alin Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2021), 507Planet-disc interactions build up local pressure maxima that may halt the radial drift of protoplanetary dust, and pile it up in rings and crescents. ALMA observations of the HD135344B disc revealed two ... [more ▼]Planet-disc interactions build up local pressure maxima that may halt the radial drift of protoplanetary dust, and pile it up in rings and crescents. ALMA observations of the HD135344B disc revealed two rings in the thermal continuum stemming from ~mm-sized dust. At higher frequencies the inner ring is brighter relative to the outer ring, which is also shaped as a crescent rather than a full ring. In near-IR scattered light images, the disc is modulated by a 2-armed grand-design spiral originating inside the ALMA inner ring. Such structures may be induced by a massive companion evacuating the central cavity, and by a giant planet in the gap separating both rings, that channels the accretion of small dust and gas through its filamentary wakes while stopping the larger dust from crossing the gap. Here we present ALMA observations in the J=(2-1)CO isotopologue lines and in the adjacent continuum, with up to 12km baselines. Angular resolutions of 0.03'' reveal the tentative detection of a filament connecting both rings, and which coincides with a local discontinuity in the pitch angle of the IR spiral, proposed previously as the location of the protoplanet driving this spiral. Line diagnostics suggest that turbulence, or superposed velocity components, is particularly strong in the spirals. The 12CO(2-1) 3-D rotation curve points at stellocentric accretion at radii within the inner dust ring, with a radial velocity of up to ~6%+-0.5% Keplerian, which corresponds to an excessively large accretion rate of ~2E-6M_sun/yr if all of the CO layer follows the 12CO(2-1) kinematics. This suggests that only the surface layers of the disc are undergoing accretion, and that the line broadening is due to superposed laminar flows. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 16 (1 ULiège) Constraints on the nearby exoplanet ɛ Indi Ab from deep near- and mid-infrared imaging limitsViswanath, Gayathri; Janson, Markus; Dahlqvist, Carl-Henrik et alin Astronomy and Astrophysics (2021), 651The past decade has seen increasing efforts in detecting and characterising exoplanets using high-contrast imaging in the near- and mid-infrared, which is the optimal wavelength domain for studying old ... [more ▼]The past decade has seen increasing efforts in detecting and characterising exoplanets using high-contrast imaging in the near- and mid-infrared, which is the optimal wavelength domain for studying old, cold planets. In this work, we present deep adaptive optics imaging observations of the nearby Sun-like star ɛ Ind A with the NaCo (L') and NEAR (10-12.5 microns) instruments at VLT in an attempt to directly detect its planetary companion, whose presence has been indicated from radial velocity (RV) and astrometric trends. We derive brightness limits from the non-detection of the companion with both instruments and interpret the corresponding sensitivity in mass based on both cloudy and cloud-free atmospheric and evolutionary models. For an assumed age of 5 Gyr for the system, we get detectable mass limits as low as 4.4 M[SUB]J[/SUB] in NaCo L' and 8.2 M[SUB]J[/SUB] in NEAR bands at 1.5'' from the central star. If the age assumed is 1 Gyr, we reach even lower mass limits of 1.7 M[SUB]J[/SUB] in NaCo L' and 3.5 M[SUB]J[/SUB] in NEAR bands at the same separation. However, based on the dynamical mass estimate (3.25 M[SUB]J[/SUB]) and ephemerides from astrometry and RV, we find that the non-detection of the planet in these observations puts a constraint of 2 Gyr on the lower age limit of the system. NaCo offers the highest sensitivity to the planetary companion in these observations, but the combination with the NEAR wavelength range adds a considerable degree of robustness against uncertainties in the atmospheric models. This underlines the benefits of including a broad set of wavelengths for the detection and characterisation of exoplanets in direct imaging studies.
Based on archival observations from the European Southern Observatory, Chile (Programmes 0102.C-0592 and 60.A-9107). [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 14 (2 ULiège) A near-infrared interferometric survey of debris-disk stars. VII. The hot/warm dust connectionAbsil, Olivier ; Marion, L.; Ertel, S. et alin Astronomy and Astrophysics (2021), 651Context. Hot exozodiacal dust has been shown to be present in the innermost regions of an increasing number of main sequence stars over the past fifteen years. The origin of hot exozodiacal dust and its ... [more ▼]Context. Hot exozodiacal dust has been shown to be present in the innermost regions of an increasing number of main sequence stars over the past fifteen years. The origin of hot exozodiacal dust and its connection with outer dust reservoirs remains however unclear. Aims. We aim to explore the possible connection between hot exozodiacal dust and warm dust reservoirs (≥ 100 K) in asteroid belts. Methods. We use precision near-infrared interferometry with VLTI/PIONIER to search for resolved emission at H band around a selected sample of 62 nearby stars showing possible signposts of warm dust populations. Results. Our observations reveal the presence of resolved near-infrared emission around 17 out of 52 stars with sufficient data quality, four of which are shown to be due to a previously unknown stellar companion. The 13 other H-band excesses are thought to originate from the thermal emission of hot dust grains, close to their sublimation temperature. Taking into account earlier PIONIER observations, where some stars with warm dust were also observed, and after re-evaluating the warm dust content of all our PIONIER targets through spectral energy distribution modeling, we find a detection rate of 17.1(+8.1)(-4.6)% for H-band excess around main sequence stars hosting warm dust belts, which is statistically compatible with the occurrence rate of 14.6(+4.3)(-2.8)% found around stars showing no signs of warm dust. After correcting for the sensitivity loss due to partly unresolved hot disks, under the assumption that they are arranged in a thin ring around their sublimation radius, we however find tentative evidence at the 3σ level that H-band excesses around stars with outer dust reservoirs (warm or cold) could be statistically larger than H-band excesses around stars with no detectable outer dust. Conclusions. Our observations do not suggest a direct connection between warm and hot dust populations, at the sensitivity level of the considered instruments, although they bring to light a possible correlation between the level of H-band excesses and the presence of outer dust reservoirs in general. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 42 (6 ULiège) Focal plane wavefront sensing using machine learning: performance of convolutional neural networks compared to fundamental limitsOrban De Xivry, Gilles ; Quesnel, Maxime ; Vanberg, P.-O. et alin Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2021), 505(4), 5702-5713Focal plane wavefront sensing (FPWFS) is appealing for several reasons. Notably, it offers high sensitivity and does not suffer from non-common path aberrations (NCPAs). The price to pay is a high ... [more ▼]Focal plane wavefront sensing (FPWFS) is appealing for several reasons. Notably, it offers high sensitivity and does not suffer from non-common path aberrations (NCPAs). The price to pay is a high computational burden and the need for diversity to lift any phase ambiguity. If those limitations can be overcome, FPWFS is a great solution for NCPA measurement, a key limitation for high-contrast imaging, and could be used as adaptive optics wavefront sensor. Here, we propose to use deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to measure NCPAs based on focal plane images. Two CNN architectures are considered: ResNet-50 and U-Net that are used, respectively, to estimate Zernike coefficients or directly the phase. The models are trained on labelled data sets and evaluated at various flux levels and for two spatial frequency contents (20 and 100 Zernike modes). In these idealized simulations, we demonstrate that the CNN-based models reach the photon noise limit in a large range of conditions. We show, for example, that the root mean squared wavefront error can be reduced to <λ/1500 for 2 × 106 photons in one iteration when estimating 20 Zernike modes. We also show that CNN-based models are sufficiently robust to varying signal-to-noise ratio, under the presence of higher order aberrations, and under different amplitudes of aberrations. Additionally, they display similar to superior performance compared to iterative phase retrieval algorithms. CNNs therefore represent a compelling way to implement FPWFS, which can leverage the high sensitivity of FPWFS over a broad range of conditions. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 40 (6 ULiège) The vector-apodizing phase plate coronagraph: design, current performance, and future developmentDoelman, D. S.; Snik, F.; Por, E. H. et alin Applied Optics (2021), 60(19), 52-72Over the last decade, the vector-apodizing phase plate (vAPP) coronagraph has been developed from concept to on-sky application in many high-contrast imaging systems on 8-m class telescopes. The vAPP is ... [more ▼]Over the last decade, the vector-apodizing phase plate (vAPP) coronagraph has been developed from concept to on-sky application in many high-contrast imaging systems on 8-m class telescopes. The vAPP is an geometric-phase patterned coronagraph that is inherently broadband, and its manufacturing is enabled only by direct-write technology for liquid-crystal patterns. The vAPP generates two coronagraphic PSFs that cancel starlight on opposite sides of the point spread function (PSF) and have opposite circular polarization states. The efficiency, that is the amount of light in these PSFs, depends on the retardance offset from half-wave of the liquid-crystal retarder. Using different liquid-crystal recipes to tune the retardance, different vAPPs operate with high efficiencies ($>96\%$) in the visible and thermal infrared (0.55 $\mu$m to 5 $\mu$m). Since 2015, seven vAPPs have been installed in a total of six different instruments, including Magellan/MagAO, Magellan/MagAO-X, Subaru/SCExAO, and LBT/LMIRcam. Using two integral field spectrographs installed on the latter two instruments, these vAPPs can provide low-resolution spectra (R$\sim$30) between 1 $\mu$m and 5 $\mu$m. We review the design process, development, commissioning, on-sky performance, and first scientific results of all commissioned vAPPs. We report on the lessons learned and conclude with perspectives for future developments and applications. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 25 (7 ULiège) The HOSTS Survey: Evidence for an Extended Dust Disk and Constraints on the Presence of Giant Planets in the Habitable Zone of β LeoDefrere, Denis ; Hinz, P. M.; Kennedy, G. M. et alin Astronomical Journal (2021), 161The young (50-400 Myr) A3V star β Leo is a primary target to study the formation history and evolution of extrasolar planetary systems as one of the few stars with known hot (∼1600 K), warm (∼600 K), and ... [more ▼]The young (50-400 Myr) A3V star β Leo is a primary target to study the formation history and evolution of extrasolar planetary systems as one of the few stars with known hot (∼1600 K), warm (∼600 K), and cold (∼120 K) dust belt components. In this paper, we present deep mid-infrared measurements of the warm dust brightness obtained with the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI) as part of its exozodiacal dust survey (HOSTS). The measured excess is 0.47% ± 0.050% within the central 1.5 au, rising to 0.81% ± 0.026% within 4.5 au, outside the habitable zone of β Leo. This dust level is 50 ± 10 times greater than in the solar system's zodiacal cloud. Poynting-Robertson drag on the cold dust detected by Spitzer, and Herschel underpredicts the dust present in the habitable zone of β Leo, suggesting an additional delivery mechanism (e.g., comets) or an additional belt at ∼5.5 au. A model of these dust components is provided that implies the absence of planets more than a few Saturn masses between ∼5 au and the outer belt at ∼40 au. We also observationally constrain giant planets with the LBTI imaging channel at 3.8 μm wavelength. Assuming an age of 50 Myr, any planet in the system between approximately 5-50 au must be less than a few Jupiter masses, consistent with our dust model. Taken together, these observations showcase the deep contrasts and detection capabilities attainable by the LBTI for both warm exozodiacal dust and giant exoplanets in or near the habitable zone of nearby stars. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 22 (3 ULiège) METIS: The Mid-infrared ELT Imager and SpectrographBrandl, B.; Bettonvil, F.; van Boekel, R. et alin Messenger (2021), 182The Mid-infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph (METIS) will provide the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) with a unique window to the thermal- and mid-infrared (3–13 µm). Its single-conjugate adaptive optics ... [more ▼]The Mid-infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph (METIS) will provide the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) with a unique window to the thermal- and mid-infrared (3–13 µm). Its single-conjugate adaptive optics (SCAO) system will enable high contrast imaging and integral field unit (IFU) spectroscopy (R ~ 100 000) at the diffraction limit of the ELT. This article describes the science drivers, conceptual design, observing modes, and expected performance of METIS. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 19 (2 ULiège) A faint companion around CrA-9: protoplanet or obscured binary?Christiaens, V.; Ubeira-Gabellini, M.-G.; Cánovas, H. et alin Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2021), 502Understanding how giant planets form requires observational input from directly imaged protoplanets. We used VLT/NACO and VLT/SPHERE to search for companions in the transition disc of 2MASS J19005804 ... [more ▼]Understanding how giant planets form requires observational input from directly imaged protoplanets. We used VLT/NACO and VLT/SPHERE to search for companions in the transition disc of 2MASS J19005804-3645048 (hereafter CrA-9), an accreting M0.75 dwarf with an estimated age of 1-2 Myr. We found a faint point source at ∼0.7-arcsec separation from CrA-9 (∼108 au projected separation). Our 3-epoch astrometry rejects a fixed background star with a 5σ significance. The near-IR absolute magnitudes of the object point towards a planetary-mass companion. However, our analysis of the 1.0-3.8 $\,\mu$ m spectrum extracted for the companion suggests it is a young M5.5 dwarf, based on both the 1.13-μm Na index and comparison with templates of the Montreal Spectral Library. The observed spectrum is best reproduced with high effective temperature ( $3057^{+119}_{-36}$ K) BT-DUSTY and BT-SETTL models, but the corresponding photometric radius required to match the measured flux is only $0.60^{+0.01}_{-0.04}$ Jovian radius. We discuss possible explanations to reconcile our measurements, including an M-dwarf companion obscured by an edge-on circum-secondary disc or the shock-heated part of the photosphere of an accreting protoplanet. Follow-up observations covering a larger wavelength range and/or at finer spectral resolution are required to discriminate these two scenarios. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 14 (2 ULiège) Imaging low-mass planets within the habitable zone of α CentauriWagner, K.; Boehle, A.; Pathak, P. et alin Nature Communications (2021), 12Giant exoplanets on wide orbits have been directly imaged around young stars. If the thermal background in the mid-infrared can be mitigated, then exoplanets with lower masses can also be imaged. Here we ... [more ▼]Giant exoplanets on wide orbits have been directly imaged around young stars. If the thermal background in the mid-infrared can be mitigated, then exoplanets with lower masses can also be imaged. Here we present a ground-based mid-infrared observing approach that enables imaging low-mass temperate exoplanets around nearby stars, and in particular within the closest stellar system, α Centauri. Based on 75-80% of the best quality images from 100 h of cumulative observations, we demonstrate sensitivity to warm sub-Neptune-sized planets throughout much of the habitable zone of α Centauri A. This is an order of magnitude more sensitive than state-of-the-art exoplanet imaging mass detection limits. We also discuss a possible exoplanet or exozodiacal disk detection around α Centauri A. However, an instrumental artifact of unknown origin cannot be ruled out. These results demonstrate the feasibility of imaging rocky habitable-zone exoplanets with current and upcoming telescopes. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 19 (4 ULiège) Improving the RSM map exoplanet detection algorithm - PSF forward modelling and optimal selection of PSF subtraction techniquesDahlqvist, Carl-Henrik ; Louppe, Gilles ; Absil, Olivier in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2021), 646Context. High-contrast imaging (HCI) is one of the most challenging techniques for exoplanet detection. It relies on sophisticated data processing to reach high contrasts at small angular separations ... [more ▼]Context. High-contrast imaging (HCI) is one of the most challenging techniques for exoplanet detection. It relies on sophisticated data processing to reach high contrasts at small angular separations. Most data processing techniques of this type are based on the angular differential imaging (ADI) observing strategy to perform the subtraction of a reference point spread function (PSF). In addition, such techniques generally make use of signal-to-noise (S/N) maps to infer the existence of planetary signals via thresholding. Aims. An alternative method for generating the final detection map was recently proposed with the regime-switching model (RSM) map, which uses a regime-switching framework to generate a probability map based on cubes of residuals generated by different PSF subtraction techniques. In this paper, we present several improvements to the original RSM map, focusing on novel PSF subtraction techniques and their optimal combinations, as well as a new procedure for estimating the probabilities involved. Methods. We started by implementing two forward-model versions of the RSM map algorithm based on the LOCI and KLIP PSF subtraction techniques. We then addressed the question of optimally selecting the PSF subtraction techniques to optimise the overall performance of the RSM map. A new forward-backward approach was also implemented to take into account both past and future observations to compute the RSM map probabilities, leading to improved precision in terms of astrometry and lowering the background speckle noise. Results. We tested the ability of these various improvements to increase the performance of the RSM map based on data sets obtained with three different instruments: VLT/NACO, VLT/SPHERE, and LBT/LMIRCam via a computation of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. These results demonstrate the benefits of these proposed improvements. Finally, we present a new framework to generate contrast curves based on probability maps. The contrast curves highlight the higher performance of the RSM map compared to a standard S/N map at small angular separations. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 34 (10 ULiège) An N-band test bench for the METIS coronagraphic masksRonayette, Samuel; Mouzali, Salima; Barrière, Jean-Christophe et alin Evans, C; Bryant, J.; Motohara, K. (Eds.) Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VIII (2020, December 15)METIS is one of the first three instruments for the ELT, Europe's next-generation ground-based telescope. It will offer imaging, coronagraphy and spectroscopy in the L, M and N bands for general-purpose ... [more ▼]METIS is one of the first three instruments for the ELT, Europe's next-generation ground-based telescope. It will offer imaging, coronagraphy and spectroscopy in the L, M and N bands for general-purpose science in astrophysics. Among its main science drivers are circumstellar disks and extrasolar planets observations, which requires demanding high contrast imaging techniques. In that framework, METIS will be equipped with state-of-the-art phase mask coronagraphs: Apodizing Phase Plate (APP) and Annular Grooves Phase Mask (AGPM). Manufacturing the AGPM coronagraphs is a complex process that requires performance assessment with specific testing before implementation into the instrument. At Department of Astrophysics (CEA Saclay, France), responsible for the testing of the N-band AGPMs, a previously available test bench with a telescope simulator and cryogenic facility has been upgraded to comply with the AGPM tests requirements. This paper presents these requirements and describes the test bench design adopted. Then, based on preliminary results, we discuss the original solutions that permitted to reach our goals. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 27 (3 ULiège) Deep learning-based focal plane wavefront sensing for classical and coronagraphic imagingQuesnel, Maxime ; Orban De Xivry, Gilles ; Louppe, Gilles et alin Schreiber, L.; Schmidt, D.; Vernet, E. (Eds.) Adaptive Optics Systems VII (2020, December 13)High-contrast imaging instruments are today primarily limited by non-common path aberrations appearing between the wavefront sensor of the adaptive optics system and the science camera. Early attempts at ... [more ▼]High-contrast imaging instruments are today primarily limited by non-common path aberrations appearing between the wavefront sensor of the adaptive optics system and the science camera. Early attempts at using artificial neural networks for focal-plane wavefront sensing showed some successful results but today's higher computational power and deep architectures promise increased performance, flexibility and robustness that have yet to be exploited. We implement two convolutional neural networks (CNN) to estimate wavefront errors from simulated point-spread functions in both low and high aberration regimes. We then extend our CNN model by a mixture density network (MDN) and show that it can assess the ambiguity on the phase sign by predicting each Zernike coefficient as a probability distribution. Our method is also applied with the Vector Vortex coronagraph (VVC), comparing the phase retrieval performance with classical imaging. Finally, preliminary results indicate that the VVC combined with polarized light can lift the sign ambiguity. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 66 (23 ULiège) The Talbot effect's impact on the high contrast imaging modes of METISBoné, André; Agócs, Tibor; Absil, Olivier et alin Navarro, R; Geyl, R (Eds.) Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation IV (2020, December 13)The ELT, Europe's Extremely Large Telescope, with its 39m main mirror will be the largest optical/infrared telescope in the world, able to work at the diffraction limit. METIS is one of its first light ... [more ▼]The ELT, Europe's Extremely Large Telescope, with its 39m main mirror will be the largest optical/infrared telescope in the world, able to work at the diffraction limit. METIS is one of its first light instruments with powerful imaging and spectroscopic capabilities in the thermal wavelengths. It contains several high contrast imaging (HCI) modes, which allow it to detect and characterize exoplanets amongst others. The HCI performance is highly dependent on pupil stabilization mechanisms and a closed loop compensation of non-common path aberrations degrading the wavefront error of the instrument. The Talbot effect is a near-field effect on collimated light, where spatial frequencies of the wavefront are re-imaged periodically along the optical path. The periodicity is known as the Talbot length, which is a function of the wavelength and the wavefront's spatial frequencies with the latter being a result of the wavefront errors caused by the surface form errors of optical elements. The aberrations oscillate from amplitude to phase, in the spatial scale of one Talbot length, which can have an impact on the performance of the HCI modes. We evaluate the impact of the Talbot effect with respect to the METIS phase aberration budget by assuming representative power spectral density profile for the surface form error of each optical surface. We propagate the errors to the subsequent pupil plane and finally investigate the resulting point spread function profile. Simulations are fed back into the HCI error budget and if necessary, the specifications regarding instrument surface form are adjusted. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 21 (2 ULiège) The adaptive optics simulation analysis tool(kit) (AOSAT)Feldt, M.; Hippler, S.; Cantalloube, F. et alin Schreiber, L.; Schmidt, D.; Vernet, E. (Eds.) Adaptive Optics Systems VII (2020, December 13)AOSAT is a python package for the analysis of single-conjugate adaptive optics (SCAO) simulation results. Python is widely used in the astronomical community these days, and AOSAT may be used stand-alone ... [more ▼]AOSAT is a python package for the analysis of single-conjugate adaptive optics (SCAO) simulation results. Python is widely used in the astronomical community these days, and AOSAT may be used stand-alone, integrated into a simulation environment, or can easily be extended according to a user's needs. Standalone operation requires the user to provide the residual wavefront frames provided by the SCAO simulation package used, the aperture mask (pupil) used for the simulation, and a custom setup file describing the simulation/analysis configuration. In its standard form, AOSAT's "tearsheet" functionality will then run all standard analyzers, providing an informative plot collection on properties such as the point-spread function (PSF) and its quality, residual tip-tilt, the impact of pupil fragmentation, residual optical aberration modes both static and dynamic, the expected high-contrast performance of suitable instrumentation with and without coronagraphs, and the power spectral density of residual wavefront errors. AOSAT fills the gap between the simple numerical outputs provided by most simulation packages, and the full-scale deployment of instrument simulators and data reduction suites operating on SCAO residual wavefronts. It enables instrument designers and end-users to quickly judge the impact of design or configuration decisions on the final performance of down-stream instrumentation. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 22 (1 ULiège) Vortex phase masks of topological charge 4 and higher with diamond subwavelength gratingsKönig, Lorenzo ; Absil, Olivier ; Delacroix, Christian et alin Navarro, R; Geyl, R (Eds.) Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation IV (2020, December 13)High contrast imaging at small inner working angles can be achieved using a vector vortex coronagraph in the focal plane of the telescope providing a helical phase ramp with a singularity at its center ... [more ▼]High contrast imaging at small inner working angles can be achieved using a vector vortex coronagraph in the focal plane of the telescope providing a helical phase ramp with a singularity at its center. The form birefringence of full-diamond subwavelength gratings has proven to be well suited to manufacture such vortex phase masks for coronagraphic applications (Subwavelength Grating Vortex Coronagraph, SGVC). In the past years our group has developed and manufactured SGVCs of topological charge 2 (Annular Groove Phase Mask, AGPM) made of a concentric diamond subwavelength grating. For future applications including ELT-class telescopes in the near- to mid-infrared that will partly resolve nearby stars, it is however useful to increase the topological charge of the vortex. After shortly reviewing our previous attempts at optimizing the grating structure for SGVC of charge 4, we present the first laboratory results obtained with such devices. We then introduce and discuss more realistic simulations compared to prior studies using finite-difference time-domain methods. The quality of the simulation results obtained with the open source software MEEP for an AGPM is shown to be appropriate for developing and assessing the performance of future vortex phase masks. We therefore perform updated simulations for SGVC of charge 4 including various designs with straight and curved grating lines. We conclude with a perspective on the potential of metasurfaces and their applications to design novel vortex coronagraphs based on subwavelength structures. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 34 (12 ULiège) Exoplanet imaging data challenge: benchmarking the various image processing methods for exoplanet detectionCantalloube, F.; Gomez Gonzalez, Carlos; Absil, Olivier et alin Schreiber, L.; Schmidt, D.; Vernet, E. (Eds.) Adaptive Optics Systems VII (2020, December 13)The Exoplanet Imaging Data Challenge is a community-wide effort meant to offer a platform for a fair and common comparison of image processing methods designed for exoplanet direct detection. For this ... [more ▼]The Exoplanet Imaging Data Challenge is a community-wide effort meant to offer a platform for a fair and common comparison of image processing methods designed for exoplanet direct detection. For this purpose, it gathers on a dedicated repository (Zenodo), data from several high-contrast ground-based instruments worldwide in which we injected synthetic planetary signals. The data challenge is hosted on the CodaLab competition platform, where participants can upload their results. The specifications of the data challenge are published on our website https://exoplanet-imaging-challenge.github.io/ . The first phase, launched on the 1st of September 2019 and closed on the 1st of October 2020, consisted in detecting point sources in two types of common data-set in the field of high-contrast imaging: data taken in pupil-tracking mode at one wavelength (subchallenge 1, also referred to as ADI) and multispectral data taken in pupil-tracking mode (subchallenge 2, also referred to as ADI+mSDI). In this paper, we describe the approach, organisational lessons-learnt and current limitations of the data challenge, as well as preliminary results of the participants’ submissions for this first phase. In the future, we plan to provide permanent access to the standard library of data sets and metrics, in order to guide the validation and support the publications of innovative image processing algorithms dedicated to high-contrast imaging of planetary systems. [less ▲]Detailed reference viewed: 45 (17 ULiège)