Compensation and optimization of dispersion in nulling interferometry

The optical properties of materials are wavelength-dependent. This property, called dispersion, affects the performance of a wide-band nulling interferometer by inducing wavelength-dependent phase differences between the arms of the interferometer. In this paper, we analyze the influence of dispersion in nulling interferometers for exoplanet...

Vectorial analysis of polarization issues in multi-axial nulling interferometers for exoplanet detection

We show the theoretical limitations of a multi-axial nulling interferometer with respect to longitudinal polarization. We furthermore analyze the filtering capabilities of a single-mode fiber in this case.

Design of a polarization nulling interferometer for exoplanet detection

We present the design of a new testbed experiment to demonstrate nulling interferometry using polarization properties. This three-beam set-up is perfectly symmetric with respect to the number of reflections and transmissions and should therefore allow a high rejection ratio in a wide spectral band.

Nulling interferometry for exoplanet detection using polarization properties

We present a new type of nulling interferometer that makes use of polarization properties to have on-axis destructive interference. The proposed design, which only involves commercial components and no achromatic device, is also suitable for internal modulation. This type of interferometer should enable a high rejection ratio in a theoretically...

Nulling interferometry without achromatic phase shifters: Latest results

We discuss the previously-reported measurements of a three-beam nulling interferometer without achromatic phase-shifters, using delay lines only. The theoretical rejection ratio of a few thousand has not been achieved experimentally. In order to explain the obtained results, some direct spectral and polarization measurements have been performed....

Comparison of blind imaging performance of Fizeau and Michelson type arrays for a partially resolved object

This paper compares two well-known types of interferometer arrays for optical aperture synthesis. An analytical model for both types describes the expected output, in terms of photon counts. The goal is to characterize the performance of both types of array for blind imaging of a wide-field or extended object that would be partially resolved by...

Measurements from a novel interferometer for EUVL mirror substrates

A previously reported interferometer without intermediate optics is used to perform measurements on an aspherical extreme ultraviolet lithography mirror substrate. Acousto-optic modulation based phase shifting is used together with a novel phase retrieval algorithm to retrieve the phase distribution from our interferograms. The phase...

Demonstration of nulling using delay line phase shifters

We present results of experiments obtained using a new nulling technique that enables deep nulling without the use of achromatic phase shifters. The experimental set-up consists of a three-beam interferometer that should provide a nulling depth of several thousands over a wavelength range of 500 to 650 nm. The intended depth of null was not...

Experimental performance of homothetic mapping for wide field interferometric imaging

Homothetic mapping is an aperture synthesis technique that allows interferometric imaging over a wide fieldof-view. A laboratory experiment was set up to demonstrate the feasibility of this technique. Here, we present the first static experiments on homothetic mapping that have been done on the Delft Testbed for Interferometry (DTI). Before a...

Experimental verification of field extension for non-homothetic arrays with a pupil-plane interferometer

Wide field interferometry has become a subject of increasing interest in the recent years. New methods have been suggested in order to avoid the drawbacks of the standard wide field method (homothetic mapping) which is not applicable when the aperture is highly diluted; for this reason imaging with non-homothetic arrays is being extensively...

Inverse propagation algorithm for angstrom accuracy interferometer

This paper will illustrate several approaches to retrieving the shape of aspherical reflective surfaces as used in EUV Lithography, from measurements from a previously reported angstrom-accuracy interferometer. First, the working principles of the interferometer will be reviewed, and typical measurement data expected from the instrument will be...