Nulling interferometric breadboard using integrated optics beam combiners, preparation to the IRSI/DARWIN mission

The IRSI/DARWIN spatial interferometer of the European Space Agency (ESA) is aimed at detecting extrasolar planets. The high difference in flux emission between the star and the planet is tackled by using nulling interferometry as a coronographic method. By star light extinction, one can retrieve the planet signal, and thus have access to high resolution imaging by interferometric measurements. Critical technological solutions are to be developed in order to reach the high level performances of such instruments. This is the scope of the Multi-Aperture Imaging Interferometer (MAI2) breadboard developed by Alcatel Space in an ESA contract. The goal of this laboratory experiment, based on integrated optics (IO) beam combination, is to obtain stable rejection of a star signal at a level of 106.