Antireflection coatings on starshade light-blocking membranes for straylight suppression

David Sheikh; Siena Lum; Juliet Whitehead

doi:10.1117/12.2692094

5 October 2023 Antireflection coatings on starshade light-blocking membranes for straylight suppression

David Sheikh, Siena Lum, Juliet Whitehead

Proceedings Volume 12680, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets XI; 126802N (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2692094
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2023, San Diego, California, United States

Conference Poster

Abstract

Starshades have deeper contrast, wider bandwidth, higher throughput, and smaller working angle than coronagraphs and may someday become the method of choice for direct observation of extrasolar planets. A starshade is a flower-shaped spacecraft structure, which is positioned between an exoplanet’s host star and a space telescope. The starshade casts a shadow on the telescope enabling viewing of a faint exoplanet without being overwhelmed by the glare from the parent star. However, to view faint exoplanets, antireflection coatings must be added to the starshade’s razor edges, as well as its light-blocking membranes. We have demonstrated antireflection coatings, which utilize resonating nanoscale cavities to absorb straylight by approximately an order-of-magnitude compared to uncoated surfaces. The optical performance of our coatings applied to the starshade edges is discussed in a separate paper [McKeithen, et al. Ref. 1]. Herein, we discuss the optical performance of light-absorbing coatings applied to broad-area, flexible, polyimide membranes. The coatings are manufactured using a novel, roll-to-roll, vacuum coating process.

Citation Download Citation

David Sheikh, Siena Lum, and Juliet Whitehead "Antireflection coatings on starshade light-blocking membranes for straylight suppression", Proc. SPIE 12680, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets XI, 126802N (5 October 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2692094

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