First results of the PERSEE experiment

J.-M. Le Duigou; J. Lozi; F. Cassaing; K. Houairi; B. Sorrente; J. Montri; S. Jacquinod; J.-M. Reess; L. Pham; E. Lhomé; T. Buey; F. Hénault; A. Marcotto; P. Girard; N. Mauclert; M. Barillot; V. Coudé du Foresto; M. Ollivier

doi:10.1117/12.2309159

20 November 2017 First results of the PERSEE experiment

J.-M. Le Duigou, J. Lozi, F. Cassaing, K. Houairi, B. Sorrente, J. Montri, S. Jacquinod, J.-M. Reess, L. Pham, E. Lhomé, T. Buey, F. Hénault, A. Marcotto, P. Girard, N. Mauclert, M. Barillot, V. Coudé du Foresto, M. Ollivier

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Proceedings Volume 10565, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2010; 105650W (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2309159
Event: International Conference on Space Optics—ICSO 2010, 2010, Rhodes Island, Greece

Abstract

Although it has been recently postponed due to high cost and risks, nulling interferometry in space remains one of the very few direct detection methods able to characterize extrasolar planets and particularly telluric ones. Within this framework, several projects such as DARWIN [1], [2], TPF-I [3], [4], FKSI [5] or PEGASE [6], [7], have been proposed in the past years. Most of them are based on a free flying concept. It allows firstly to avoid atmosphere turbulence, and secondly to distribute instrumental function over many satellites flying in close formation. In this way, a very high angular resolution can be achieved with an acceptable launch mass. But the price to pay is to very precisely position and stabilize relatively the spacecrafts, in order to achieve a deep and stable extinction of the star. Understanding and mastering all these requirements are great challenges and key issues towards the feasibility of these missions. Thus, we decided to experimentally study this question and focus on some possible simplifications of the concept.

Since 2006, PERSEE (PEGASE Experiment for Research and Stabilization of Extreme Extinction) laboratory test bench is under development by a consortium composed of Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (IAS), Observatoire de Paris-Meudon (LESIA), Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur (OCA), Office National d’Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA), and Thalès Alénia Space (TAS) [8]. It is mainly funded by CNES R&D. PERSEE couples an infrared wide band nulling interferometer with local OPD and tip/tilt control loops and a free flying Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) simulator able to introduce realistic disturbances. Although it was designed in the framework of the PEGASE free flying space mission, PERSEE can adapt very easily to other contexts like FKSI (in space, with a 10 m long beam structure) or ALADDIN [9] (on ground, in Antarctica) because the optical designs of all those missions are very similar. After a short description of the experimental setup, we will present first the results obtained in an intermediate configuration with monochromatic light. Then we will present some preliminary results with polychromatic light. Last, we discuss some very first more general lessons we can already learn from this experiment.

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J.-M. Le Duigou, J. Lozi, F. Cassaing, K. Houairi, B. Sorrente, J. Montri, S. Jacquinod, J.-M. Reess, L. Pham, E. Lhomé, T. Buey, F. Hénault, A. Marcotto, P. Girard, N. Mauclert, M. Barillot, V. Coudé du Foresto, and M. Ollivier "First results of the PERSEE experiment", Proc. SPIE 10565, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2010, 105650W (20 November 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2309159

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