Space-qualified liquid-crystal variable retarders for wide-field-of-view coronagraphs

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Date
2011-01-01
Author
Uribe-Patarroyo, N.
Alvarez-Herrero, A.
García Parejo, P.
Vargas, J.
Heredero, R.L.
Restrepo, R.
Martínez Pillet, V.
Del Toro Iniesta, J.C.
López, A.
Fineschi, S.
Capobianco, G.
Georges, M.
López, M.
Boer, G.
Manolis, I.
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Abstract
Abstract
Liquid-crystal variable retarders (LCVRs) are an emergent technology for space-based polarimeters, following its success as polarization modulators in ground-based polarimeters and ellipsometers. Wide-field double nematic LCVRs address the high angular sensitivity of nematic LCVRs at some voltage regimes. We present a work in which wide-field LCVRs were designed and built, which are suitable for wide-field-of-view instruments such as polarimetric coronagraphs. A detailed model of their angular acceptance was made, and we validated this technology for space environmental conditions, including a campaign studying the effects of gamma, proton irradiation, vibration and shock, thermo-vacuum and ultraviolet radiation. © 2011 Copyright Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10784/27972
DOI
10.1117/12.904919
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