The Vector Vortex Coronagraph (VVC) is an attractive internal coronagraph solution to image and characterize exoplanets. It provides four key pillars on which efficient high contrast imaging instruments can be built for ground- and space-based telescopes: small inner working angle, high throughput, clear off-axis discovery space, and simple layout. We present the status of the VVC technology development supported by NASA. We will review recent results of the optical tests of the second-generation topological charge 4 VVC on the actively corrected High Contrast Imaging Testbed (HCIT) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). New VVC contrast records have been established.

Date Published: 15 September 2011
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 8151, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets V, 81511D (15 September 2011); doi: 10.1117/12.896070

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8151:
Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets V
Stuart Shaklan, Editor(s)