Optimization of Petal-Shaped Occulters for Exo-Earth Observation
This study optimizes petal-shaped occulters for exoplanet observation by minimizing Fresnel diffraction effects. By decomposing the required transmission profile onto a basis of circular occulters, researchers found an efficient method to achieve starlight rejection better than 10^-12. The optimization involves tuning weights and radii iteratively to minimize residual stellar flux.