This paper presents a polarization microscope using an infrared (IR) full-Stokes imaging polarimeter. The IR polarimeter utilizes an optimized interference-based micropolarizer design, and provides full-Stokes images with resolution of 1608 × 1208 at 35 frames/second. The device fabrication, instrument calibration, performance evaluation, and measurement results are presented. The measurement error of the imaging polarimeter is less than 3.5%, and the standard deviations are less than 2%.
The Habex study, commissioned by NASA in preparation for the 2020 Decadal Survey, is evaluating a 4 meter space telescope for high contrast imaging and spectral characterization of extrasolar terrestrial planets. Its off-axis configuration, active structural metrology, and low-disturbance pointing control provide an optimal system for coronagraphs. We present predictions of the Habex performance using a charge 6 vortex coronagraph that have been obtained using numerical modeling techniques developed for the WFIRST coronagraph. The models include realistic optical surface and polarization-induced aberrations, pointing jitter, and thermally-induced wavefront variations. Wavefront control using dual deformable mirrors is simulated to create a dark, high-contrast hole around the star. The results show that current technologies can closely approach the Habex performance goals, and with some additional development in key areas (e.g., deformable mirror surface quality, low-polarization coatings, etc.) over the next few years they should reliably meet them.
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