Performance and sensitivity of PIAA coronagraphs for future segmented space telescopes

Abstract

The direct imaging and spectroscopic characterization of atmospheres of Earth-like exoplanets requires a starlight suppression system to detect a faint planetary signal at small angular separations. Future space telescopes will require segmentation which presents additional challenges for coroangraphy due to pupil discontinuities. We present compact designs that will feed into the Segmented Coronagraph Design and Analysis (SCDA) group's end-to-end models that studies the sensitivity of PIAA designs to segmented pupils such as those representative of the Large UV / Optical /Infrared (LUVOIR) mission concept.