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The use of a quantum fiter in astronomicai imaging 1-THEORY

Poster · February 2019

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5 authors, including:

Franco Strumia P. Paolicchi

Università di Pisa Università di Pisa
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 The use of a quantum fiter in astronomicai imaging
paolo.paolicchi@unipi.it,
franco.strumia@unipi.it

F. Strumia (1), A.Brez (2), P. Bacci (3), P.Paolicchi(1) and G.Cavallo(4)

1-Dipartimento di Fisica “E.Fermi” Università di Pisa, 2-INFN – Sezione di Pisa -3 GAMP (Gruppo Astrofili Montagna Pistoiese) -(4)Ludoteca Scientifica, Universita’ di Pisa

A filter made of an array of equidistant holes is described. It can allow to improve the image contrast and to superimpose bright spectra to the usual images. A few preliminary tests have been
performed, and a more thorough testing and analysis is required to qualify the potential of the method and define its applications.

1 - THEORY
Multiple interference between periodic functions offers interesting improvement to detection of weak signals. The sum of same frequency N functions has a peak increasing as N and the ratio 2

Max/min. is proportional to 1/ N . Any device combining N times a signal has a clear advantage against one summing only N=2, as in the Michelson interferometer.
2

If we consider a linear array of N equidistant holes (distance b ) on a plane screen, the intensity distribution (or photon presence probability) is those of a diffraction grating, namely
2
sin [ pN sin(q )( b/ l) ]
EE* = AA 2
sin [ p sin(q )( b/ l) ]
where � is the angle to the normal and λ the wavelength. Note that above function is periodic, that the peaks height is proportional to N^2, their width is proportional to 1/N and that the
integral over a period is independent from N. Thus the image contrast increases as N.
If we consider
  now a square array of NxN equidistant holes, the interference image intensity is that of two crossed transmitting gratings (Sommerfeld, Optics p.185, Academic Press
1954) and we obtain the following intensity distribution, for which the peak intensity and the contrast are proportional to N^4: .

2 2
Sin (Nx) Sin (Ny)
2
I =A 2
* 2
Sin (x) Sin (y)

2 – OBSERVATIONAL TESTS (S.Marcello Pistoiese)

The above theoretical considerations encouraged us to do some preliminary tests, to verify whether the potential advantages in terms of contrast (and, maybe, resolution)
can be obtained with a filter located in the optical path of a real telescope. In principle the improved contrast may even favor the observation of extrasolar planets.
One of the major concerns is connected to the possible effects of the astronomical seeing. To perform these tests we have built a square filter, by combining two Ronchi
Rulings (1 inch, 100 l/inch). The filter has been used with the 60 cm F4 telescope of the Osservatorio Astronomico della Montagna Pistoiese. Images have been taken of
a few stellar fields, during a night characterized by a severe seeing (more than 3”). Among the others, the double star WDS HJ 3255 has been observed. We report here
the images obtained without and with the filter. The image with the filter is darker (due to the 75% absorption of the light). In the image the bright objects appear
surrounded by diffraction lines. More important, the two components of the double star are more clearly resolved. Within the limits of our test, we are encouraged to
continue the analysis.

3 – OBSERVATIONAL TESTS (Pisa)

Other tests have been performed in Pisa, by means of a 20cm Celestron F10 telescope (usually devoted to teaching and outreach purposes) equipped by a Nikon
D5200 camera. Tests have been performed with the filter described above and with another filter, a disk of polimide foil, copper plated, with a regular triangular
array of holes (foil thickness 50µm, holes diameter 30µm, center to center distance 50µm, flex cable technology). We have illuminated the telescope with a small
green source 0.2mm wide from a 80m distance obtaining the expected hexagonal pattern of the diffracted images (fig.A). The observation of pairs of holes 1mm
wide, separated by 1mm in a mask illuminated by white light confirms the increase of resolving power with the filter (fig.B). When we observe a star (in fig C Rigel
in Orion with the possible resolution of a companion) the continuous spectrum is spread along the diffraction lines in agreement with the theory (white segments).

Fig.B: images and profiles of two ligth sources separated by1mm with
the telescope distance =80 meters .
On left side withouth filter, on rigth side with the filter
Fig.A diffraction pattern of a green pointlike source.
Fig.C the colours spectra are spread along the diffraction axis (white
segments) in agreement with theory.
4 – CONCLUSIONS In figure Rigel (β Orionis) with a possible companion Rigel B.

Simple theoretical considerations concerning interference optics led us to conceive a 2D grating array as a filter capable to improve the contrast if close stellar
systems; in principle an useful tool also to observe exoplanets. We have built a low-cost square filter, testing it with small telescopes, with not favorable weather
conditions. In spite of the limited experimental conditions and apparatus, we obtained encouraging results, supporting a further thorough investigation. However,
the collaboration of professional observers and of experts in astronomical technologies, which we are willing to obtain, will be required for further steps.
 Congresso Nazionale di Scienze Planetarie
2019planetologia-header

Dal 4 all’8 Febbraio 2019, si terrà a Firenze il XV Congresso Nazionale di Scienze Planetarie, nel corso
del quale saranno trattate tutte le tematiche di ricerca in cui sono impegnati i vari gruppi italiani e verrà
fatto il punto della situazione programmatica e scientifica della Planetologia italiana.

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