Tags: 
ESO partners with Opto-Line International on a close to 2-year research and development project, culminating in a successful modification to their VLT mid-infrared imager VISIR to greatly enhance its ability as a planet finder.
ESO and the Breakthrough Initiatives have conducted a 100-hour observing campaign to search for low-mass planets around both components of the binary a Centauri, part of the closest stellar system to the Earth. Using adaptive optics and high-performance coronagraphy, the instrument reached unprecedented contrast and sensitivity allowing it to see Neptune-sized planets in the habitable zone, if present. The experiment allowed ESO to characterize the current limitations of the instrument.
After many iterations and rounds of trial and error, Opto-Line International created a custom 2,000Å thick chrome pattern on Ø22mm x 2mm ZnSe substrates with 17.67um pixels for ESO.
Opto-Line was proud to be a part of this significant project and are thankful for ESO’s acknowledgement in their article, “NEAR: First Results from the Search for Low-Mass Planets in a Cen”
“Many thanks go also to our industrial partners KT
Optics, Optoline and the Infrared Multilayer Laboratory
of the University of Reading (now Oxford), for
their R&D spirit and their willingness to stay with us
during the rapid development of the experiment.”
Learn more about our Custom Precision Patterns
Opto-Line is dedicated to the highest quality custom optical patterns and coatings.
Since 1967, Opto-Line International has built a reputation for excellence, providing companies in the medical, optometry, aerospace, industrial, science and defense sectors with the very best custom precision optical patterns and thin film coatings available.
We’d love to hear from you. Please tell us more about your custom optical pattern needs.
