Issue EAS Publications Series Volume 8, 2003 Astronomy with High Contrast Imaging Page(s) 201 - 207 DOI 10.1051/eas:2003062

Astronomy with High Contrast Imaging
C. Aime and R. Soummer (eds)
EAS Publications Series, Vol. 8, 2003
DOI: 10.1051/eas:2003062

A ground-based study for the 4Q coronagraph

P. Riaud^{1, 2}, A. Boccaletti², J. Baudrand² and D. Rouan<sup>2

1</sup>  LISE-Observatoire de Haute-Provence, 04870 St Michel l'Observatoire, France
²  LESIA, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, 5 Pl. J. Janssen, 92195 Meudon, France

Abstract
High angular resolution provided by adaptive optics on ground-based telescopes allows detailed study of bright stars environment. The limitation of dectability of faint companions is the diffracted light from the star. The 4Q coronagraph (Rouan et al. 2000; Riaud et al. 2001; Abe et al. 2001) decreases this diffracted halo and provides high contrast imaging. The residual speckle pattern becomes the final limitation for the coronagraphic observations. We present here, a complete study of the 4Q coronagraph in use with an high order adaptive optics on the VLT telescope, within the context of "Planet Finder" ESO project. Practically, a simple solution making use of commercial half waveplates seems well suited for a ground-based coronagraphic device.

© EAS, EDP Sciences 2003

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