Coronagraph instrument for WFIRST-AFTA

M. Charley Noecker; Feng Zhao; Rick Demers; John Trauger; Olivier Guyon; N. Jeremy Kasdin

doi:10.1117/1.JATIS.2.1.011001

11 March 2016 Coronagraph instrument for WFIRST-AFTA

M. Charley Noecker, Feng Zhao, Rick Demers, John Trauger, Olivier Guyon, N. Jeremy Kasdin

Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, Vol. 2, Issue 1, 011001 (March 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.2.1.011001

Abstract

The Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is a NASA observatory concept, now in phase A study, which is designed to perform wide-field imaging and slitless spectroscopic surveys for dark energy research and other astrophysical studies. It will also perform microlensing surveys to look for distant exoplanets in our galaxy, and direct imaging studies of some of the very nearest exoplanets. The current astrophysics focused telescope assets (AFTA) design of the mission makes use of an existing 2.4-m telescope, which yields enhanced sensitivity and imaging performance in all these science programs. AFTA also enables the addition of a coronagraph instrument (CGI) for direct imaging and spectroscopy of nearby giant exoplanets (including some that were discovered by radial velocity and other methods), and also for observing debris disks around the candidate host stars. This paper outlines the context for the other papers in this special volume on the WFIRST-AFTA CGI, covering the science, design, engineering, and technology development of the observatory and its CGI.

Citation Download Citation

M. Charley Noecker, Feng Zhao, Rick Demers, John Trauger, Olivier Guyon, and N. Jeremy Kasdin "Coronagraph instrument for WFIRST-AFTA," Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems 2(1), 011001 (11 March 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.2.1.011001

Published: 11 March 2016

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