Sensitivity analysis of the New Worlds starshade's shadow

This paper presents analysis showing the sensitivity of the hypergaussian starshade to various types of errors. These errors are defined and classified. Using a single exemplar of the starshade the sensitivity to various kinds of errors, the kind now envisioned for the New Worlds Observer mission. After review of the basics of starshade diffraction, the error classes are defined. The errors include, static errors in global shape, correlated errors, being the same on all petals, and uncorrelated errors, the errors being unique to each petal edge. The effects of the first two classes of errors are evaluated using computerized numerical solutions to the diffraction problem. In the case of uncorrelated errors, a statistical approach is taken.