Wavefront control in space with MEMS deformable mirrors for exoplanet direct imaging

Abstract

Abstract. To meet the high contrast requirement of 1 × 10 −10 to image an Earth-like planet around a sun-like star, space telescopes equipped with coronagraphs require wavefront control systems. Deformable mirrors (DMs) are a key element of a wavefront control system, as they correct for imperfections, thermal distortions, and diffraction that would otherwise corrupt the wavefront and ruin the contrast. The goal of the CubeSat DM technology demonstration mission is to test the ability of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) DM to perform wavefront control on-orbit on a nanosatellite platform. We consider two approaches for an MEMS DM technology demonstration payload that will fit within the mass, power, and volume constraints of a CubeSat: (1) a Michelson interferometer and (2) a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. We clarify the constraints on the payload based on the resources required for supporting CubeSat subsystems drawn from subsystems that we have developed for a different CubeSat flight project. We discuss results from payload laboratory prototypes and their utility in defining mission requirements. © The Authors.Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

Enhanced adaptive focusing through semi-transparent media

“…The active control of light propagation through turbid media 1 is becoming an essential tool in microscopy 2 , biological and biomedical imaging 3 4 5 6 7 8 , communication technology 9 10 , and astrophysics 11 12 . Wavefront shaping 13 is a powerful technique that allows to manipulate the optical paths through scattering media and currently it is possible to generate behind a scattering material multiple light spots, actively driven at user controlled positions 1 14 , spatiotemporal focusing 1 15 , sub-wavelength foci (which may be employed for high resolution microscopy below the diffraction limit) 16 17 , to transmit image around corners 18 , to control nonlinear systems 6 19 such as random lasers 20 21 22 and to permit novel forms of secure communication 23 .…”

MEMS Deformable Mirrors for Space-Based High-Contrast Imaging

“…The Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat payload will demonstrate the on-orbit performance of a 140-actuator BMC MEMS DM on a 6U (10 cm × 20 cm × 30 cm) CubeSat [103,104,105,106]. The goal of this mission is to raise the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of MEMS DM technology from a TRL of 5 to at least a TRL of 7 for future space telescope applications [107].…”

Optical calibration and first light for the deformable mirror demonstration mission CubeSat (DeMi)

“…The Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) payload is an optical instrument that is demonstrating the on-orbit performance of a 140-actuator Microelectromechanical Systems Deformable Mirror (MEMS DM) on a 6U (10 × 20 × 30 cm 3 ) CubeSat. [1][2][3][4][5][6] The key payload requirements are to measure individual DM actuator wavefront displacement contributions to a precision of 12 nm, measure low order optical aberrations to λ∕10 accuracy and λ∕50 precision, and correct both static and dynamic wavefront errors to <100 nm RMS error. The DeMi mission will raise the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of MEMS DM technology from a five to at least a seven for future space telescope applications 7 (see the Appendix for a description of NASA TRLs).…”