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J.T. Trauger, A.B. Hull, D.A. Redding (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
The Eclipse Test Bed (ETB) is being developed at JPL to validate concepts for space-based coronagraphic imaging with precision active wavefront control. The ETB brings together light sources, relay optics, deformable mirror, wavefront sensors, graded occulting spots, Lyot masks, detectors, and baffles, all in a vacuum environment. With the exception of a large telescope, the ETB provides all of the elements needed for a system-level demonstration of 109 contrast imaging within arcseconds of bright stars. The ETB will be used to evaluate coronagraphic camera design issues including wavefront phase sensing techniques, stray light control, smoothness and uniformity of optical surfaces, pupil shapes and apodizations, and alignment tolerances. A major goal for ETB is to validate the optical diffraction computer simulations now being used to predict the performance of future space telescope architectures for direct imaging of extrasolar planets.