Abstract
Nulling Interferometry applied to the search and characterization of earth-like ex- oplanets requires to eliminate the star's contribution at a rejection level (Rej = collected en- ergy/residual energy)larger than 10 6 over a large bandwidth (6 to 18 µm). Nulling test-benches are in development in several laboratories so as to master such high a rejection. One approach relies on a Mach-Zehnder set-up with Achromatic Phase Shifters (APS). One APS concept is based on the focus-crossing property, providing an intrinsically achromatic phase shift by π. Using a confocal configuration for the focus-crossing approach, a Fresnel's diffraction effect de- grades the rejection. Usual optical engineering softwares fail in assessing rejection performance and an analytical approach is needed. We describe the bench optical configuration and the Fres- nel's diffraction effect as well as a possible way for correction. Then we describe the analytical method, based on Lommel's integrals, to evaluate the expectable rejection.
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