Broadband Achromatic Phase Shifter for a Nulling Interferometer
TBMG-9891
05/01/2011
- Content
Nulling interferometry is a technique for imaging exoplanets in which light from the parent star is suppressed using destructive interference. Light from the star is divided into two beams and a phase shift of π radians is introduced into one of the beams. When the beams are recombined, they destructively interfere to produce a deep null. For monochromatic light, this is implemented by introducing an optical path difference (OPD) between the two beams equal to λ/2, where λ is the wavelength of the light. For broadband light, however, a different phase shift will be introduced at each wavelength and the two beams will not effectively null when recombined.
- Citation
- "Broadband Achromatic Phase Shifter for a Nulling Interferometer," Mobility Engineering, May 1, 2011.