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The Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics
(SCExAO) system, currently under development, is an instrument
optimized for high contrast imaging of exoplanets and disks on the
Subaru Telescope. It is unique among Extreme-AO instruments, as it
is designed to be highly flexible and uses techniques recently
developed for high contrast imaging from space.
Its coronagraph, based on a geometrical remapping of the beam into a
edge-less apodized beam, can image planets as close as 1 lambda/D
from the host star (40 mas on Subaru Telescope). In addition to
these unusual optics, achieving high contrast at this small angular
separation is enabled by a wavefront sensing and control
architecture which is optimized for exquisite control and
calibration of low order aberrations. SCExAO also includes a visible
channel for high speed wavefront sensing and can also provide
scientifically valuable diffraction-limited visible images.
SCExAO is therefore a pathfinder - scientifically and technically -
for future high contrast imaging instruments for the current
generation of 8-10m telescopes, for future 20-30m ELTs, and also for
future direct imaging space missions.
I will describe the architecture of SCExAO, and show recent results
obtained on sky during our first engineering observation. I will
also describe the symbiotic relationship between SCExAO development
and technology development efforts for future space-based high
contrast imaging.
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