Enhanced faint companion photometry and astrometry using wavelength diversity

In this paper we examine approaches to faint companion detection and estimation in multi-spectral images. We will employ the Hotelling observer, which is the optimal linear algorithm for signal detection. We have shown how to use this observer to estimate faint object position and brightness in the presence of residual speckle, which usually limits astrometric and photometric techniques. These speckles can be reduced by differential imaging techniques such as Angular Differential Imaging and Spectral Differential Imaging. Here we present results based on simulations of adaptive-optics-corrected images from an Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) that contain quasi-static speckle noise. The simulation includes Angular Differential Imaging and Spectral Differential Imaging to reduce the residual speckle and subsequent multi-wavelength processing. We examine the feasibility of this approach on simulated ELT observations of faint companions. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America