title: Probability density function and detection threshold in high contrast imaging with partially polarized light.
abstract: We obtain an expression for the probability density function of partially developed speckles formed by light with an arbitrary degree of polarization. From the probability density we calculate the detection threshold corresponding to the 5 sigma confidence level of a normal distribution. We show that unpolarized light has an advantage in high contrast imaging for low ratios of the deterministic part of the point spread function to the halo, typical in coronagraphy.
authors.affiliation: European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO), Karl Schwarzschildstrasse 2, D-85748 Garching B. Muenchen, Germany. nyaitsko@eso.org
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yaitskova