Orateur
Description
Optical interferometry enables levels of resolution beyond the capabilities of current direct imaging telescopes by coherently combining light from multiple apertures. When applied to a single telescope, it enhances resolution up to the diffraction limit of the telescope, helps to mitigate the effects of atmospheric turbulence and enables spectro-imaging.
Considering these advantages, my talk will focus on the Fibered ImageR for a Single Telescope (FIRST), a spectro-interferometer installed on the Subaru Telescope and the central topic of my thesis. Since first light, FIRST has undergone major upgrades, and as such serves as an ideal case study for discussing the key optical components used in optical interferometry and their performance.
The first mode of the instrument, FIRST-FIZ, introduced the application of aperture masking combined with optical fiber, allowing for high contrast and better calibrated images [1]. The second one, FIRST-PIC, applied the use of photonic integrated chips (PICs) to replace the bulk optics previously used in the recombination of the light, for a significantly more compact and precise recombination of the light [2]. Finally, the latest mode of the instrument currently in use at the Subaru telescope is FIRST-PL, and incorporates a photonic lantern, a novel component that couples light from the entire telescope aperture into different single mode fibers. This innovation dramatically increases throughput, and returns results of high angular resolution [3]. In my presentation, I will discuss these technological advancements and their respective advantages in the development of high-resolution optical interferometry in the context of FIRST.
[1] : « FIRST, a fibered aperture masking instrument », E. Huby et al (2012)
[2] : « Laboratory characterization of FIRSTv2 photonic chip for the study of substellar companions » K. Barjot et al (2021)
[3] : « Spectroscopy using a visible photonic lantern at the Subaru Telescope: Laboratory characterization and the first on-sky demonstration on Ikiiki (α Leo) and 'Aua (α Ori) » S. Vievard et al (2024)
| Astrophysics Field | Instrumentation, High angular resolution, Optical interferometry |
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