The FIRST project: a single-mode fiber-based very high-dynamic range diffraction-limited imaging instrument at visible to near-infrared wavelengths

Takayuki Kotani (1, 2, 3) , Guy Perrin (1, 2, 3) , Sylvestre Lacour (4, 1, 2, 3) , Eric Thiébaut (5) , Julien M. Woillez (6) , Pierre Fédou (1, 2, 3) , Jean-Philippe Berger (4) , P. Bordé (7) , Olivier Chesneau (8) , Pierre Kervella (1, 2, 3) , Olivier Lai (9) , Alain Lecavelier Des Etangs (10) , Stephen Ridgway (11) , Daniel Rouan (1, 2, 3) , A. Vidal-Madjar (10)

1 LESIA - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
2 Pôle Astronomie du LESIA
3 Ingénieurs, Techniciens et Administratifs
4 LAOG - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
5 CRAL - Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon
6 W. M. Keck Observatory
7 IAS - Institut d'astrophysique spatiale
8 Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur
9 CFHT - Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Corporation
10 SU - Sorbonne Université
11 NOAO - National Optical Astronomy Observatory, Tucson

We describe the present status of the development of a very high-dynamic range, diffraction limited imaging instrument FIRST (Fibered Imager foR Single Telescope), among which goals is the detection of nearby extra-solar planets at visible to near-infrared wavelengths from the ground. We have started to develop a prototype system which consists of a number of novel designs such as a segmented micro mirror array and silicon micro machined single-mode fiber arrays. Furthermore, we have proposed to build a FIRST instrument for the CFHT, which will be complementary to high-dynamic range instruments developed for 8m class telescopes at near-infrared wavelengths.

Domaines: Astrophysique [astro-ph]

Takayuki Kotani, Guy Perrin, Sylvestre Lacour, Eric Thiébaut, Julien M. Woillez, et al.. The FIRST project: a single-mode fiber-based very high-dynamic range diffraction-limited imaging instrument at visible to near-infrared wavelengths. Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy II, Jun 2008, Marseille, France. pp.57, ⟨10.1117/12.789008⟩. ⟨hal-03734557⟩