Thickness-dependent optical properties of metals and alloys applicable to TPF coronagraph image masks

Kunjithapatham Balasubramanian; Daniel W. Wilson; Richard E. Muller; Brian D. Kern; Erkin Sidick

doi:10.1117/12.732721

19 September 2007 Thickness-dependent optical properties of metals and alloys applicable to TPF coronagraph image masks

Kunjithapatham Balasubramanian, Daniel W. Wilson, Richard E. Muller, Brian D. Kern, Erkin Sidick

Proceedings Volume 6693, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets III; 66930Z (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.732721
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Some common metals and alloys have been identified as potential candidates with optical properties applicable to image plane masks for terrestrial planet finder (TPF) coronagraph especially for broad band performance in the visible spectrum. Thin films of these materials exhibit thickness dependence of refractive index and extinction coefficient which vary with wavelength and consequently the intensity and phase of transmitted light. We report on the fabrication and measurement of thickness-dependent optical properties of thin films of Ni, Pt and Inconel alloys to enable optimum design of image plane masks for Lyot coronagraphs to operate in the 500 to 800 nm band. We discuss the potential and limitations of practical masks with such materials.

Citation Download Citation

Kunjithapatham Balasubramanian, Daniel W. Wilson, Richard E. Muller, Brian D. Kern, and Erkin Sidick "Thickness-dependent optical properties of metals and alloys applicable to TPF coronagraph image masks", Proc. SPIE 6693, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets III, 66930Z (19 September 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.732721

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