Common-path achromatic interferometer-coronagraph: nulling of polychromatic light

A three-dimensional common-path interferometer is proposed, which can achromatically null out an on-axis source while it maintains the detectability of an off-axis source. A geometric phase in the three-dimensional interferometer introduces an achromatic pi-phase shift to the light from the on-axis source, such that destructive interference nulls out the axial light at one of the ports of the interferometer. Light from the off-axis source, which is exempt from the pi-phase shift, comes out from both ports with equal intensity. The common-path scheme makes the system highly immune to environmental disturbances.     

Common-path achromatic rotational-shearing coronagraph

To suppress starlight for direct exoplanet observation, we propose a common-path achromatic rotational-shearing coronagraph (CP-ARC), which is an interferocoronagraph with an angular-adjustable field rotator. The CP-ARC aims to maintain unwanted detection of stellar light, which can be suppressed incompletely by interference because of the finite diameter of the star. Compared to the previous interferocoronagraph, which had a nonadjustable 180° field rotation, the proposed CP-ARC can improve the coronagraphic contrast by several orders if the CP-ARC is combined with medium or large telescopes where the companion-star separation is optically resolved by more than a few Airy radii. The CP-ARC is made robust against mechanical disturbances due to the common-path interferometer principle.     

Electrical transport and magnetic ordering in R 2Ti3Ge4 (R=Dy, Ho and Er) compounds

New R ₂Ti₃Ge₄ (R=Dy, Ho and Er) intermetallic compounds have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction and low temperature ac magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity and thermoelectric power measurements were carried out. The compounds crystallize in the parent, Sm₅Ge₄-type orthorhombic structure (space group Pnma) and lanthanide contraction is observed as one moves along the rare-earth series. The changeover from paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic phase happens at low temperatures and the ordering temperature scales with the de Gennes factor. The electrical resistivity is metallic with a negative curvature above 100 K. Thermopower displays a weak maximum at temperatures less than 50 K signifying the possible phonon and magnon drag effects.     

Achromatic nulling interferometer for stellar coronography

A common-path interferometer that is intended for observation of a faint off-axis light source against the background of an intense on-axis source is suggested. The on-axis source and its replicated image acquire an achromatic phase shift of 180° and interfere in antiphase. The achromatic phase shift is due to the geometrical phase in the configuration of a 3D interferometer. Interference spatially separates the dark and bright fields of the on-axis source by directing them to different sides of a beam splitter. At the same time, interference does not attenuate the field of the off-axis source, directing it to different sides of the beam splitter with equal intensities. Such a configuration of the common-path interferometer provides mechanical stability.     

Development of spatial coherence from an extended source in successive rotational shearing interferometers for achromatic stellar coronagraphy

We propose a new scheme of an achromatic nulling interferometer-coronagraph to gain a higher contrast in the star-planet model. Two successive rotational shearing interferometers improve the interference contrast limited by insufficient spatial coherence of a physically extended source, a star. The theory and simulations have been confirmed by an experiment. The theoretical value of the coronagraphic contrast has been improved from 10⁴ to 10¹⁰ for an angular size of the extended source of 10^?2λ/D, where λ is the wave-length and D is the telescope’s aperture diameter.     

Physical foundations of achromatic nulling interferometry for stellar coronagraphy

We propose an achromatic interferometer for the observation of a faint off-axis light source against the background of a bright on-axis light source. The on-axis source and its copy acquire an achromatic phase shift by 180° and interfere with a phase difference of π. The achromatic phase shift is attributable to the geometric phase in the three-dimensional interferometer scheme. Interference spatially separates the nulled and bright fields of the on-axis source, redirecting them on opposite sides of the beamsplitter. Interference does not attenuate the field of the off-axis source and redirects it with an equal intensity on both sides of the beamsplitter. We consider the principle of operation of the nulling interferometer and constraints on the attenuation of an extended source due to the decrease in coherence. The laboratory breadboard and experiment are briefly described.     

Elastic properties of the Ta–V system: bcc Ta0.33V0.67 and C15 TaV2

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy was used to measure the elastic constants of bcc Ta_0.33V_0.67 over the temperature range 3.5–300?K; the results were compared to earlier measurements on C15 TaV₂. The temperature dependence of the polycrystalline shear modulus is completely different in the two phases; that of the bcc phase decreases with temperature whereas that of the C15 phases increases in an anomalous fashion. This difference is consistent with a model involving doubly-degenerate levels at the X point of the Brillouin zone in the C15 phase with the Fermi level lying near the doubly degenerate level. This model accounted for the unusual behaviour of the C15 phase. Debye temperatures were determined from the ultrasonic measurements: 295?K for the C15 phase and 315?K for the bcc phase.     

Achromatic nulling interferometer based on a geometric spin-redirection phase

Nulling interferometry aims to perform destructive interference achromatically. It is used to detect a faint source near a bright one and to provide dark field, an annular pupil, and rotational shear. A nulling out-of-plane interferometer that utilizes the geometric phase of spin redirection is proposed. The degree of nulling is determined by beam collimation and angular orientation of mirrors. Simulations and experiments are in reasonable agreement.     

Interferometric microimaging based on geometrical spin-redirection phase

A novel scheme for an interferometric microscope with which to visualize a geometrical spin-redirection phase image that represents the local inclination of microsurface structures of an object is proposed. The observed phase depends on the state of polarization and the optical constants of the object material, which enable one to distinguish the spin-redirection phase from the conventional dynamical-phase. A preliminary experiment was performed, and the phase images obtained were found to be consistent with those predicted by computer simulation based on a theoretical model.