Nulling Interferometry

M.J. Creech-Eakman (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

Abstract:

An overview of the techniques and current state of "nulling" interferometry are presented. This will include an explanation for the motivation for nulling, along with a brief comparison to other techniques. I will present a brief history of how the field developed and where it stands today. Details of the theory of nulling, including some comparisons of different types of nullers will be given. I will finish with some results from laboratory nulls for the Keck Interferometer Nuller and published telescope-based nulls and the implications of these results.

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Suggested Reading:

• Principles of Long Baseline Stellar Interferometry, P. R. Lawson, ed.
  Chapter 16, "Nulling Interferometry and Planet Detection" by E. Serabyn
  (Jet Propulsion Laboratory: 1999).

• Achromatic Interfero Coronagraphy: I. Theoretical capabilities for ground-based observations,
  P. Baudoz, Y. Rabbia, J. Gay
  Astron. Astrophys. Supp. Ser. 141, 319 (2000).

• Achromatic interfero coronagraphy II. Effective performance on the sky (Abstract HTML)

P. Baudoz, Y. Rabbia, J. Gay, R. Burg, L. Petro, P. Bely, B. Fleury, P.-Y. Madec, F. Charbonnier
Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 145, 341-350 (2000).
• Fully Symmetric Nulling Beam Combiners
  Eugene Serabyn and M. Mark Colavita
  Appl. Opt. 40, 1668-1671 (2001).