The Game-Changing Technology Driving the Quest for Earth Twins in Space

In the quest to discover planets resembling Earth outside of our solar system, the advancement of deformable mirror (DM) technology represents a watershed moment. The direct imaging of exoplanets necessitates the rectification of flaws and alterations in a space telescope at subatomic levels. This breakthrough is crucial in eliminating the glare from host stars, which typically obscures the faint light emitted by these Earth-like planets.

Given that these planets are approximately 10 billion times dimmer than their parent stars, the task at hand involves blocking nearly all of the star’s light to facilitate the capture of the planet’s faint illumination. A coronagraph, in conjunction with deformable mirrors, serves this purpose by obstructing the starlight and rectifying any residual starlight contamination. This exceptionally precise control is imperative for identifying an Earth-like planet utilizing a coronagraph. Deformable mirrors play a pivotal role in the success of future space coronagraphs, with the Roman Space Telescope, spearheaded by NASA, set to showcase this technology.

Deformable mirrors function by manipulating the optical pathway of incoming light through orchestrated alterations in the mirror’s shape. While they chiefly rectify deformations caused by atmospheric turbulence for ground-based telescopes, they correct minute optical disturbances that emerge as the telescope and instrument experience heating and cooling cycles in orbit for space telescopes. The lofty contrast objectives for deformable mirrors in space, approximately 10^-10, significantly surpass those of their ground-based counterparts, underscoring the substantial undertaking involved in the development and implementation of this technology.

Currently, two primary technologies – electrostrictive and electrostatically-forced Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) DM – are under consideration for space missions. Assiduous adherence to NASA’s stringent requirements has spurred various contractor teams to enhance the performance of deformable mirrors. Tests simulating space conditions have been conducted with the 2k DM, and ongoing efforts are underway to elevate these technologies to meet the demands of upcoming NASA missions, including the Habitable Worlds Observatory.

Looking ahead, the plan is to validate this technology in space via the Roman Space Telescope to pave the way for the future flagship mission. The Habitable Worlds Observatory aspires to attain even more substantial wavefront control requisites, propelling the development of the design and electronics that govern the deformable mirrors. The Astrophysics Division is strategically investing in elevating deformable mirror technologies to support such missions, heralding an exhilarating stride forward in our expedition to explore the cosmos beyond our own.

This research, authored by Dr. Eduardo Bendek of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, stands as a momentous advancement in the examination of Earth-like planets and the quest for life beyond our domain.