PIAA-Vortex Coronagraph: Towards the Next Level of Performance for Exoplanet Imaging

Completed TRL 2 (started at 1, targeting 2)

Description

The main goal of this proposal is to design and demonstrate a coronagraph which significantly increases the science yield (at least 20% improvement) of exoplanet -imaging missions such as LUVOIR and HabEx.

Benefits

The key innovation developed at our partner Caltech is that a hybrid PIAA-Vortex coronagraph can recover the performance advantages of both PIAA )high-throughput) and the Vector Vortex Coronagraph )high-robustness to aberrations) for an on-axis telescope pupil.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Optical Components
Program	Center Innovation Fund: ARC CIF (ARC CIF)
Lead organization	Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Start date	2020-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Dan Sirbu — dan.sirbu@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 2) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.