.. General, 32 3.2.1 An outline, p.33

.. Modal, 48 3.5.1 Fluoride-Glass Single-Mode Fibres, p.48

P. Phase-shifter, 53 3.9.1 Focus Crossing or Through Focus, p.54

. Alcatel, private communication from Alcatel Space Industries (now Thales Alenia Space), 2004.

J. R. Angel and N. J. Woolf, An Imaging Nulling Interferometer to Study Extrasolar Planets, The Astrophysical Journal, vol.475, issue.1, pp.373-383, 1997.
DOI : 10.1086/303529

P. Baudoz, Y. Rabbia, and J. Gay, Achromatic interfero coronagraphy I. Theoretical capabilities for groundbased observations, Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol.141, pp.319-329, 2000.

P. Baudoz, Y. Rabbia, J. Gay, R. Burg, L. Petro et al., Achromatic interfero coronagraphy. II. Effective performance on the sky, Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol.145, pp.341-350, 2000.

C. A. Beichman, N. J. Woolf, and C. A. Lindensmith, The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF), JPL 99-3. NASA, 1999. URL http

M. Boffety and D. Drugeon, ´ Etude du déphasage introduit par un déphaseur achromatique. Master's thesis, ´ Ecole supérieure d'optique, 2006.

H. Bokhove, J. P. Kappelhof, H. J. Vink, L. L. Vosteen, and Z. Sodnik, Broadband nulling using a prism phase shifter, ESA SP-539: Earths: DARWIN/TPF and the Search for Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets, pp.367-369, 2003.

R. W. Boyd, Intuitive explanation of the phase anomaly of focused light beams, Journal of the Optical Society of America, vol.70, issue.7, p.877, 1917.
DOI : 10.1364/JOSA.70.000877

R. N. Bracewell, Detecting nonsolar planets by spinning infrared interferometer, Nature, vol.95, issue.5673, p.780, 1978.
DOI : 10.1038/231375a0

F. ´. Brachet, Etude et développement d'un déphaseur achromatique pour l'interférométrie en frange noire, 2005.

C. Buisset, X. Rejeaunier, Y. Rabbia, and M. Barillot, Stable deep nulling in polychromatic unpolarized light with multiaxial beam combination, Applied Optics, vol.46, issue.32, pp.7817-7822, 2007.
DOI : 10.1364/AO.46.007817

C. Buisset, Caractérisation et optimisation d'un interféromètrè a frange sombre etàet`età bande large, 2007.

B. Chazelas, F. Brachet, P. Bordé, B. Mennesson, M. Ollivier et al., Instrumental stability requirements for exoplanet detection with a nulling interferometer: variability noise as a central issue, Applied Optics, vol.45, issue.5, pp.45984-992, 2006.
DOI : 10.1364/AO.45.000984
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00398263

B. Chazelas, ContributionàContribution`Contributionà l'´ etude de l'interférométrie annulante pour la détection d'exo-planètes, 2007.

V. Coude-du-foresto, G. Perrin, C. Ruilier, B. P. Mennesson, W. A. Traub et al., FLUOR fibered instrument at the IOTA interferometer, Astronomical Interferometry, pp.856-863, 1998.
DOI : 10.1117/12.317153

J. Michael and . Crowe, The Extraterrestrial Life Debate, pp.1750-1900, 1999.

J. Steven and . Dick, Plurality of Worlds: The Extraterrestrial Life Debate from Democritus to Kant, 1984.

J. Steven and . Dick, Life on Other Worlds: The 20th Century Extraterrestrial Life Debate, 1996.

F. D. Drake, Project Ozma, Physics Today, vol.14, issue.4, p.40, 1961.
DOI : 10.1063/1.3057500

F. Drake and D. Sobel, Is Anyone Out There? The Scientific Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, 1992.

G. Faure and T. Mensing, Introduction to planetary science. The geological perspective, 2007.

R. Flatscher, Z. Sodnik, K. Ergenzinger, U. Johann, and R. Vink, DARWIN nulling interferometer breadboard I: System engineering and measurements, ESA SP-539: Earths: DARWIN/TPF and the Search for Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets, pp.283-291, 2003.

. Bernard-le-bovier-de-fontenelle, Entretiens sur la pluralité des mondes, 1686.

. Fragment, From Anaxagoras quoted by Simplicius of Cilicia

. Fragment, From Simplicius of Cilicia quoted by Theophrastus, ??????? ?o???, Phys. opin, vol.4, issue.7

P. Gabor, B. Chazelas, F. Brachet, M. Ollivier, M. Decaudin et al., Stabilising a nulling interferometer using optical path difference dithering, Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol.483, issue.1, pp.365-369, 2008.
DOI : 10.1051/0004-6361:20077830

P. Gabor, B. Chazelas, P. A. Schuller, F. Brachet, M. Ollivier et al., Stabilising a nulling interferometer using optical path difference dithering: an update, Optical and Infrared Interferometry, 2008.
DOI : 10.1117/12.789222

P. Gabor, P. A. Schuller, B. Chazelas, M. Decaudin, A. Labèque et al., Tests of achromatic phase shifters performed on the SYNAPSE test bench: a progress report, Optical and Infrared Interferometry, 2008.
DOI : 10.1117/12.789269

P. Gabor, Achromatic phase shifter performance stabilisation through optical path difference modulation, Master Recherche (M2) Astronomie et Astrophysique, 2006.

R. O. Gappinger, R. T. Diaz, A. Ksendzov, P. R. Lawson, O. P. Lay et al., Experimental evaluation of achromatic phase shifters for mid-infrared starlight suppression, Applied Optics, vol.48, issue.5, p.868, 2009.
DOI : 10.1364/AO.48.000868

S. Gaukroger, The emergence of a scientific culture. Science and the shaping of modernity, pp.1210-1685, 2006.

A. Gelb, W. E. Vander, and . Velde, Multiple-Input Describing Functions and Nonlinear System Design, 1968.

A. Gottlieb and . Man, A review of Rowland's Giordano Bruno. Philosopher/Heretic, New York Times, 2008.

P. Haguenauer and E. Serabyn, Deep nulling of laser light with a single-mode-fiber beam combiner, Applied Optics, vol.45, issue.12, pp.2749-2754, 2006.
DOI : 10.1364/AO.45.002749

K. Houairi, F. Cassaing, J. M. Le-duigou, B. Sorrente, S. Jacquinod et al., PERSEE, the dynamic nulling demonstrator: recent progress on the cophasing system, Optical and Infrared Interferometry, 2008.
DOI : 10.1117/12.789113

K. Houairi, Cophasage de téléscopes multi-pupilles sur point source : applicationàapplication`applicationà linterféromtre en frange noire Persée, 2009.

E. M. Jones, Where is everybody? An account of Fermi's question, Physics Today, pp.11-13, 1985.
DOI : 10.2172/5746675

C. H. Kahn, Anaximander and the origins of Greek cosmology, page 52, 1960.

L. Kaltenegger, W. A. Traub, and K. W. Jucks, Spectral Evolution of an Earth???like Planet, The Astrophysical Journal, vol.658, issue.1, pp.598-616, 2007.
DOI : 10.1086/510996

A. Ksendzov, O. Lay, S. Martin, J. S. Sanghera, L. E. Busse et al., Characterization of mid-infrared single mode fibers as modal filters, Applied Optics, vol.46, issue.32, pp.7957-7962, 2007.
DOI : 10.1364/AO.46.007957

L. Labadie, E. Le-coarer, R. Maurand, P. Labeye, P. Kern et al., Mid-infrared laser light nulling experiment using single-mode conductive waveguides, Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol.471, issue.1, pp.355-360, 2007.
DOI : 10.1051/0004-6361:20067005
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00398383

R. Launhardt, Breadboarding an achromatic phase shifter for midinfrared nulling interferometry. volume 7013 of To be presented at the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, SPIE) Conference, pp.7013-175, 2008.

T. Laurent and . Participatonàparticipaton, Participatonà l'expérience d'interférométrie annulante S??????: validation des technologies de la mission spatiale Darwin, 2008.

P. R. Lawson, O. P. Lay, S. R. Martin, R. D. Peters, R. O. Gappinger et al., Technology challenges for exoplanet detection with mid-IR interferometry, 7th International Conference on Space Optics, pp.14-17, 2008.

R. Peter and . Lawson, Nulling interferometry and the detection of Earth-like planets. state of the art, 2009.

P. R. Lawson and J. A. Dooley, Technology Plan for the Terrestrial Planet Finder Interferometer, JPL 05-5. NASA, 2005.

O. P. Lay, Removing instability noise in nulling interferometers, Advances in Stellar Interferometry, 2006.
DOI : 10.1117/12.670603

O. P. Lay, Systematic errors in nulling interferometers, Applied Optics, vol.43, issue.33, pp.6100-6123, 2004.
DOI : 10.1364/AO.43.006100

A. Léger, J. Mariotti, J. Puget, D. Rouan, and J. Schneider, DARWIN: Mission concept for the ESA Horizon 2000+ program, 1993.

S. Martin, P. Szwaykowski, and F. Loya, Testing exo-planet signal extraction using the Terrestrial Planet Finder planet detection testbed, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets II, pp.70-79, 2005.
DOI : 10.1117/12.615559

S. R. Martin, R. O. Gappinger, F. M. Loya, B. P. Mennesson, S. L. Crawford et al., Mid-infrared nuller for Terrestrial Planet Finder: design, progress, and results, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets, pp.144-154, 2003.
DOI : 10.1117/12.521312

S. R. Martin, E. Serabyn, and G. Hardy, Deep nulling of laser light in a rotational shearing interferometer, Interferometry for Optical Astronomy II, pp.656-667, 2003.
DOI : 10.1117/12.459340

S. R. Martin, P. Szwaykowski, F. M. Loya, and K. Liewer, Progress in testing exo-planet signal extraction on the TPF-I planet detection testbed, Advances in Stellar Interferometry, 2006.
DOI : 10.1117/12.672646

B. Mennesson, M. Ollivier, and C. Ruilier, Use of single-mode waveguides to correct the optical defects of a nulling interferometer, Journal of the Optical Society of America A, vol.19, issue.3, pp.596-602, 2002.
DOI : 10.1364/JOSAA.19.000596

B. Mennesson, S. L. Crawford, E. Serabyn, S. Martin, M. Creech-eakman et al., Laboratory performance of the Keck Interferometer nulling beam combiner, ESA SP-539: Earths: DARWIN/TPF and the Search for Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets, pp.525-528, 2003.

B. Mennesson, A. Léger, and M. Ollivier, Direct detection and characterization of extrasolar planets: The Mariotti space interferometer, Icarus, vol.178, issue.2, pp.570-588, 2005.
DOI : 10.1016/j.icarus.2005.05.012

B. Mennesson, P. Haguenauer, E. Serabyn, and K. Liewer, Deep broad-band infrared nulling using a singlemode fiber beam combiner and baseline rotation, Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Conference Series of Presented at the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Conference, 2006.

R. M. Morgan, J. H. Burge, and N. J. Woolf, Final laboratory results of visible nulling with dielectric plates, Interferometry for Optical Astronomy II, pp.644-655, 2003.
DOI : 10.1117/12.459341

M. Ollivier, Coronographie interférentielle pour la mission Darwin, 1999.

M. Ollivier, J. Mariotti, A. Léger, P. Sékulic, J. Brunaud et al., Interferometric coronography for the DARWIN space mission - Laboratory demonstration experiment, Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol.370, issue.3, pp.1128-1136, 2001.
DOI : 10.1051/0004-6361:20010363

R. D. Peters, O. P. Lay, A. Hirai, and M. Jeganathan, Progress in deep broadband interferometric nulling with the adaptive nuller, Optical and Infrared Interferometry, 2008.
DOI : 10.1117/12.786845

R. D. Peters, O. P. Lay, and M. Jeganathan, Broadband phase and intensity compensation with a deformable mirror for an interferometric nuller, Applied Optics, vol.47, issue.21, pp.3920-3926, 2008.
DOI : 10.1364/AO.47.003920

M. Polanyi and . Knowledge, Towards a Post-Critical Philosophy, 1958.

Y. Rabbia, Y. Gay, and E. Bascou, Achromatic phase shifters for nulling interferometry, ICSO'2000 -Conférence Internationale d'Optique Spatiale, pp.389-400, 2000.

Y. Rabbia, Y. Gay, E. Bascou, and J. L. Schneider, Summary assessment report on achromatic phase shifters for space interferometry, Contract, vol.14, issue.00, p.398, 2001.

Y. Rabbia, J. Gay, B. Chazelas, A. Labèque, and J. Rivet, Nulling interferometry : Lommel's integrals applied to a Fresnel's diffraction effect, IAU Colloq. 200: Direct Imaging of Exoplanets: Science & Techniques, pp.265-270, 1017.
DOI : 10.1017/S1743921306009434

R. Samuele, J. K. Wallace, E. Schmidtlin, M. Shao, B. M. Levine et al., Experimental Progress and Results of a Visible Nulling Coronagraph, 2007 IEEE Aerospace Conference, 2007.
DOI : 10.1109/AERO.2007.353077

N. C. Santos, G. Israelian, M. Mayor, R. Rebolo, and S. Udry, Statistical properties of exoplanets, Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol.398, issue.1, pp.363-376, 2003.
DOI : 10.1051/0004-6361:20021637

E. Schmidtlin, J. K. Wallace, R. Samuele, B. M. Levine, and M. Shao, Recent progress of visible light nulling interferometry and first 1 million null result, Direct Imaging of Exoplanets: Science and Techniques, pp.353-360, 2005.
DOI : 10.1017/S1743921306009586

F. Selsis, D. Despois, and J. Parisot, Signature of life on exoplanets: Can Darwin produce false positive detections?, Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol.388, issue.3, p.985, 2002.
DOI : 10.1051/0004-6361:20020527

E. Serabyn, Nulling interferometry progress, Interferometry for Optical Astronomy II, pp.594-608, 2003.
DOI : 10.1117/12.457058

E. Serabyn, Nulling interferometry: symmetry requirements and experimental results, Interferometry in Optical Astronomy, pp.328-339, 2000.
DOI : 10.1117/12.390223

E. Serabyn and M. Colavita, Fully symmetric nulling beam combiners, Applied Optics, vol.40, issue.10, p.1668, 2001.
DOI : 10.1364/AO.40.001668

E. Serabyn and M. M. Colavita, Fully symmetric nulling beam combiners, Applied Optics, vol.40, issue.10, pp.1668-1671, 2001.
DOI : 10.1364/AO.40.001668

I. S. Shklovskii and C. Sagan, Intelligent life in the universe. Random House, 1966.

. Daniel?peldadaniel?daniel?pelda, Astronomie v antice, Astronomy in Antiquity]. Montanex, 2006.

J. Spronck, S. F. Pereira, and J. J. Braat, Chromatism compensation in wide-band nulling interferometry for exoplanet detection, Applied Optics, vol.45, issue.4, pp.597-604, 2006.
DOI : 10.1364/AO.45.000597

J. Strick, Darwin and the origin of life: A historical perspective American Associaiton for the Advancement of Science Exploring the Origin, Extent, and Future of Life: Philosophical, Ethical, and Theological Perspectives, 2003.

L. Susskind, The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the Illusion of Intelligent Design, 2006.

A. V. Tavrov, Y. Otani, T. Kurokawa, and M. Takeda, 3D common-path interferometer: achromatic nulling of on-axial light, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets II, pp.398-404, 2005.
DOI : 10.1117/12.620027

H. J. Vink, N. J. Doelman, R. Flatscher, and Z. Sodnik, DARWIN nulling interferometer breadboard II: design and manufacturing, ESA SP-539: Earths: DARWIN/TPF and the Search for Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets, pp.641-645, 2003.

L. L. Vosteen, H. J. Vink, H. Van-brug, and H. Bokhove, Achromatic phase-shifter breadboard extensions, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets II, pp.91-101, 2005.
DOI : 10.1117/12.614337

J. K. Wallace, V. Babtiwale, R. Bartos, K. Brown, R. Gappinger et al., Mid-IR interferometric nulling for TPF, New Frontiers in Stellar Interferometry, pp.862-862, 2004.
DOI : 10.1117/12.551558

K. Wallace, G. Hardy, and E. Serabyn, Deep and stable interferometric nulling of broadband light with implications for observing planets around nearby stars, Nature, vol.406, issue.6797, pp.700-702, 2000.
DOI : 10.1038/35021007

S. Webb, If the Universe is teeming with aliens... Where is everybody? Fifty solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the problem of extraterrestrial life, 2002.

V. Weber, ´ Etude de l'interféromètrè a frange noire MAII, 2004.

N. J. Woolf and J. R. Angel, Planet Finder Options I: New Linear Nulling Array Configurations, ASP Conf. Ser. 119: Planets Beyond the Solar System and the Next Generation of Space Missions, p.285, 1997.