We describe a method to observe dim exoplanets that eliminates light from the parent star across the entire exit pupil without sacrificing light from the planet by use of a vortex mask of topological charge m = 2.

No abstract

Experimental and numerical techniques allowed us to predict and verify the existence of a robust phase singularity in the spatial coherence function when a vortex is present. Though observed in the optical domain, this phenomenon may occur in any partially coherent vortex wave.

No abstract

No abstract

The Marboré Cirque, which is located in the southern central Pyrenees on the

No abstract

Using an optical vortex coronagraph and simple adaptive optics techniques, we have made the first convincing demonstration of an optical vortex coronagraph that is coupled to a star gazing telescope. We suppressed by 97% the primary star of a resolvable binary system, Cor Caroli. The stars had an angular separation of 1.9lambda/D at our imaging camera. The secondary star suffered no suppression from the vortex lens.