Hypertelescope imaging: from exo-planets to neutron stars

Abstract

'Densified-pupil multi-aperture imaging arrays', also called hypertelescopes, provide a path towards rich images obtained directly at the focal plane. They typically involve a large Fizeau arrangement, with a small attached 'pupil densifier' serving to gain luminosity at the expense of field. At scales ranging from kilometers to perhaps a million kilometers, such architectures appear of interest for stellar physics, galaxies, cosmology, and neutron star imaging with the larger sizes. Ground testing is initiated and space versions are proposed, particularly to NASA for its Terrestrial Planet Finder. The coronagraphic imaging achievable with this space version is expected to improve the detection sensitivity to attenuating the sky background contribution. Subsequent laser versions can in principle resolve the 'green spots' on an Earth seen at several parsecs. Current design work for a precursor array of 'flying mirrors' driven by solar sails in geostationary orbit will be presented.