MAFL experiment: development of photonic devices for a space-based multiaperture fiber-linked interferometer.
We present a three-telescope space-based interferometer prototype dedicated to high-resolution imaging. This project, named multiaperture fiber-linked interferometer (MAFL), was founded by the European Space Agency. The aim of the MAFL project is to propose, design, and implement for the first time to the best of our knowledge all the optical functions required for the global instrument on the same integrated optics (IO) component for controlling a three-arm interferometer and to obtain reliable science data. The coherent transport from telescopes to the IO component is achieved by means of highly birefringent optical fiber. The laboratory bench is presented, and the results are reported allowing us to validate the optical potentiality of the IO component in this frame. The validation measurements consist of the throughput of this optical device, the performances of metrological servoloop, and the instrumental contrasts and phase closure of the science fringes.
Olivier
Serge
S
XLIM/Imagerie Radar et Optique UMR CNRS 6172, Universite de Limoges, 123 Avenue Albert Thomas, 87060 Limoges CEDEX, France. serge.olivier@xlim.fr
Delage
Laurent
L
Reynaud
Francois
F
Collomb
Virginie
V
Trouillon
Michel
M
Grelin
Jerome
J
Schanen
Isabelle
I
Minier
Vincent
V
Broquin
Jean-Emmanuel
JE
Ruilier
Cyril
C
Leone
Bruno
B