Apodized vortex coronagraph for the Habitable Worlds Observatory

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Abstract
The apodized vortex coronagraph (AVC) integrates pupil plane apodization to suppress segmentation-induced diffraction and is a leading candidate for high-contrast imaging on future flagship segmented observatories. Selected as the baseline coronagraph for Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared Surveyor B (LUVOIR-B) and as a pipe-cleaning coronagraph for the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), the AVC achieves ∼5×10−9 raw contrast over a 10% bandwidth in the lab but must be further optimized to meet the stringent ∼1×10−10 contrast requirement of HWO. We present the optimization process for the amplitude apodized vortex coronagraph (AAVC) for HWO’s exploratory analytical cases 1 and 2, along with its performance and sensitivity analyses to various aberrations. In addition, we evaluate the predicted scientific yield of the AAVC across HWO apertures using the Framework for Remote Implementation of Demand-based Altruistic Yields. Our results inform the path toward advancing AVC technology readiness for direct exoplanet imaging.
Funding Information
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration ROSES SAT/TDEM Program (80NM0018D0004)