Wavefront Correction for the Observation of an Exoplanet against the Background of the Diffraction Stellar Vicinity

We propose and investigate a precise wavefront correction method for the astronomical observation of exoplanets in the diffraction stellar vicinity. We show the applicability of the method for measuring and correcting the wavefront in the scheme of a telescope and an interferometric coronagraph without applying any Hartmann wavefront sensors. In our laboratory experiment we achieved a correction accuracy ~λ/50 and a coronagraphic contrast better than 10 5 . We outline the prospects for increasing the correction accuracy to a target value of λ/500 to visualize the Earth in the vicinity of the Sun observed from a distance of 10 pc (in the immediate neighborhood of the Solar System) through an additional amplitude correction and the inclusion of non-common-path aberrations.