标题： 小型恒星遮挡器的光学验证实验 显示英文标题

标题： Optical Verification Experiments of Sub-scale Starshades

摘要： 星冕仪是实现探测和光谱表征类地系外行星的领先技术。 在本文中，我们报告了亚尺度星冕仪的光学实验，这些实验推进了关键的日光抑制技术，为下一代空间望远镜做准备。 这些实验是在普林斯顿星冕仪测试平台进行的，该平台是一个80米长的封闭装置，在类似飞行的菲涅尔数下测试1/1000尺度的星冕仪。 我们在可见光谱10%的范围内，在星冕仪的几何内工作角度处实现了1e-10的对比度，内工作角度的平均对比度为2.0e-10，对比度底限为2e-11。 除了这些高对比度演示外，我们通过故意有缺陷的星冕仪测试，验证了衍射模型的准确性优于35%。 总体而言，这些实验揭示了由于光线通过星冕仪花瓣之间的狭窄缝隙传播而导致的标量衍射理论的偏差。 我们提供了一个能够准确捕捉低于1e-10对比度水平效应的模型。 这些实验的结果表明，建造一个能提供足够对比度以探测类地系外行星的星冕仪没有光学障碍。 这项工作还设定了用于预测星冕仪性能的衍射模型中未知因素的影响上限，并设定了星冕仪制造的公差。 显示英文摘要

摘要： Starshades are a leading technology to enable the detection and spectroscopic characterization of Earth-like exoplanets. In this paper we report on optical experiments of sub-scale starshades that advance critical starlight suppression technologies in preparation for the next generation of space telescopes. These experiments were conducted at the Princeton starshade testbed, an 80 m long enclosure testing 1/1000th scale starshades at a flight-like Fresnel number. We demonstrate 1e-10 contrast at the starshade's geometric inner working angle across 10% of the visible spectrum, with an average contrast at the inner working angle of 2.0e-10 and contrast floor of 2e-11. In addition to these high contrast demonstrations, we validate diffraction models to better than 35% accuracy through tests of intentionally flawed starshades. Overall, this suite of experiments reveals a deviation from scalar diffraction theory due to light propagating through narrow gaps between the starshade petals. We provide a model that accurately captures this effect at contrast levels below 1e-10. The results of these experiments demonstrate that there are no optical impediments to building a starshade that provides sufficient contrast to detect Earth-like exoplanets. This work also sets an upper limit on the effect of unknowns in the diffraction model used to predict starshade performance and set tolerances on the starshade manufacture.