Planet Finder Options I: Linear Nulling Arrays for Studying Earth-Like Planets
Nick Woolf and Roger Angel
Center for Astronomical Adaptive Optics, Steward Observatory
Univ. of Arizona, Tucson AZ
This paper shows options for configuring a symmetric linear nulling array as a Planet Finder. Of special interest are linked in-line pairs of identical sub-arrays with a quarter wave phase shift between them and staggered by half an element spacing. The configuration of the optical links for general astrophysical use is also described.