Experimental validation of Lyot stop apodization in ground-based coronagraphy

Abstract

ABSTRACT We show that the use of apodizing functions at the coronagraph Lyot plane may be useful for improving the image contrast of ground-based coronagraphs. An experimental set-up consisting of a tip–tilt mirror, a coronagraph and a low-noiseEMCCDcamerawas implemented at theWilliam Herschel Telescope. Images were taken in the I band, which meant that the D/r0 value was around 10. Experimental results confirm that, for moderately aberrated wavefronts, our instrument works as theoretically expected, and that the contrast value attained is high enough to provide direct detection of faint companions.