Imagine peering through the cosmic glare to find another Earth. U.S. astronomers have unveiled a quantum-powered coronagraph, a device that could revolutionize exoplanet imaging. Published in Optica on April 22, this technology promises to directly image Earth-like planets previously hidden by the overwhelming light of their stars.
Developed by researchers at the University of Arizona and the University of Maryland, the coronagraph uses quantum mechanics to filter starlight. It exploits the spatial modes of photons, effectively separating planetary light from stellar glare before it reaches the telescope's detector. This "spatial mode sorter" uses precision-crafted optical phase masks to redirect light waves from exoplanets.
Lab tests simulating star-planet systems proved the system could resolve dim, Earth-like planets at distances previously unattainable. The device maintained accuracy even at high star-to-planet contrast ratios, demonstrating its potential for space-based observatories. This breakthrough could augment missions like NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory, significantly expanding our ability to detect biosignatures on distant worlds.