Paper 14145-83
Paper 14145-83
Multi-star wavefront control: updates on science opportunities for Roman CGI and HWO, and latest progress in technology development
9 July 2026 • 16:50 - 17:10 CEST | Room B4-M3
Abstract
This work presents the latest technology development and science opportunities for Multi-Star Wavefront Control (MSWC), a method to enable high-contrast imaging of multi-star systems with the Roman Space Telescope and Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). MSWC enhances the exoplanet yield and enables new science specific to planets around multi-star systems. In addition, it enables a follow up of the aCenA planet candidate recently reported by JWST. Our laboratory tests are continuing at JPL’s High Contrast Imaging Testbed (HCIT), and at time of this writing, include a demonstration of 9.4e-8 in full MSWC mode for an equivalent aCenAB separation. Scaled to the binary’s actual flux ratio, these performance levels yield equivalent contrasts of 3.7e-8 (aCenA) and 1.8e-7 (aCenB). These results suggest that current performance may already be sufficient to detect planets around aCenA in reflected light, if it can be replicated on sky.
Presenter
NASA Ames Research Ctr. (United States)
Ruslan Belikov received a BSE with high honors from Princeton in 1999, a Ph.D. from Stanford in 2005 (both in Electrical Engineering), and since then has been involved in developing the technology for direct imaging of potentially habitable exoplanets in one form or another. Currently he is the head of the Exoplanet Technologies group at NASA Ames, which has developed several new technologies in high contrast imaging. Belikov's accomplishments include achieving a high contrast record of 2e-9 in 10% light with the Shaped Pupil Coronagraph in 2007, inventing the Multi-Star Wavefront Control (MSWC) technique to enable high contrast imaging of exoplanets and disks in binary star systems. Belikov also participated on many coronagraphic mission concepts or related efforts, including serving as PI of ACESat, a small explorer mission proposal, and serving in the Project Office of the Habitable Worlds Observatory.