SPIE Optics+Photonics 2023 Conference Proceedings Wrap up

Recently we published a series of conference proceedings from the SPIE Optics+Photonics meeting which explore potential approaches to lowering the cost of large space telescopes and coronagraphs:

1. The first, in Douglas, et al. (2023, September 1). Approaches to lowering the cost of large space telescopes. arXiv.2309.04934 we discussed how to translate lessons from ground-based observatories and NewSpace/CubeSat science into lower cost observatories and introduced a power-spectral-density parameterizations of wavefront evolution over time inspired by ground-based adaptive optics techniques.
2. Kim, D. et al. (2023, September 1).Compact Three Mirror Anastigmat Space Telescope Design using 6.5m Monolithic Primary Mirror. arXiv.2309.04921, introduced a telescope concept that uses a classic UArizona 6.5m borosilicate mirror and fits within a SpaceX Starship fairing without deployables,
3. Choi, H. et al. (2023). Approaches to developing tolerance and error budget for active three mirror anastigmat space telescopes. arXiv.2310.12376 Summarized a notional tolerance budget to show that such a concept is capable of diffraction limited imaging.
4. building on those two papers, Kang et al described a lab experiment to begin validating the phase retrieval approaches introduced in Douglas et al: Kang, H., et al. (2023, September 1). Focus diverse phase retrieval testbed development of continuous wavefront sensing for space telescope applications. arXiv E-Prints. arXiv.2309.04680,
5. applying lessons from bending mode control of ground-based observatories to the parameter Blomquist, et al. (2023, September 1). Analysis of active optics correction for a large honeycomb mirror. arXiv E-Prints. arXiv.2309.04584.
6. Derby, K. Z., et al. (2023, September 1). Integrated modeling of wavefront sensing and control for space telescopes utilizing active and adaptive optics. arXiv E-Prints. arXiv.2309.05748

In 2020 we introduced a simple of-axis coronagraph design: Maier, et al. (2020) arXiv.2109.12718

Which was followed up in 2022 be the design and first-light papers for a vacuum coronagraph test bed based on on the same optical design: Ashcraft, et al (2022). arXiv.2208.01156 and Van Gorkom, K., et al. (2022). arXiv.2208.01155.

At this year’s meeting we did a deep dive on a few areas of particular interest to the same coronagraph design, radiation-tolerant deformable mirror controllers:

1. Haughwout, C., et al. (2023). Compact deformable mirror driver electronics for risk tolerant astrophysics missions. In Astronomical Optics: Design, Manufacture, and Test of Space and Ground Systems IV (Vol. 12677, pp. 63–76). SPIE. 10.1117/12.2677714_
2. Gorkom, K. V., et al. (2023). Optical characterization of a low-noise, high-resolution controller for MEMS deformable mirrors for space applications. SPIE. 10.1117/12.2677878 (manuscript pending, presentation available with SPIE subscription). Open Access Slides on UA Box
3. Mendillo, C. B., et al (2023). Reflective lyot stop low-order wavefront control for future large space telescope coronagraphs. SPIE. 10.1117/12.2677654 (arXiv submission pending, available with SPIE subscription).

And

1. model-free image-plane wavefront control algorithms to remove speckles with empirical calibration Milani, K.,(2023, September 8). Simulating the efficacy of the implicit-electric-field-conjugation algorithm for the Roman Coronagraph with noise. arXiv. arXiv.2309.04595
2. We also assessed the limitations on coronagraph contrast due to polarization aberrations Anche, R. M., et al. (2023, September 1). Estimation of polarization aberrations and their effect on the coronagraphic performance for future space telescopes. arXiv E-Prints. arXiv.2309.04563
3. and the quality of artificial stars (pinholes) used for coronagraph testing:Jenkins, E. L., et al. (2023, September 1). Microfabricated pinholes for high contrast imaging testbeds. arXiv E-Prints. arXiv.2309.04604