PIAA Complex Mask Coronagraph (PIAACMC)

The PIAACMC concept is a high performance PIAA-based coronagraph, theoretically (point source, monochromatic light, no wavefront aberrations) able to reach raw contrast better than 1e-10 with a 0.64 λ/D inner working angle (defined as the 50% throughput). At large angular separation (well outside the inner working angle), the throughput is 100%.

Principle

PIAA-based coronagraph architectures (left) and corresponding performance (right). Top row: conventional PIAA coronagraph. Middle row: PIAA / Lyot coronagraph. Bottom row: PIAACMC.
[ppt slide]

Source code

Source code in Cfits module coronagraphs. Coronagraph number 50, uses coronagraph_simul_MULTISTEP_APLC and precomputed 2D prolate spheroidal apodization functions.

PIAACMC concept Paper

PIAACMC paper (2010)