Seidr update: photonic 'black magic' for high-contrast interferometry using kernel-nulling and photonic lanterns

arXiv (Cornell University)

Abstract

Seidr is a new interferometric beam combiner within the Asgard Suite, utilizing infrastructure common to the BIFROST instrument at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer. Seidr combines hybrid mode-selective photonic lantern injection modules with a kernel-nulling photonic chip backend to enable deep H-band nulling for high-contrast studies of exoplanets, exomoons, and circumstellar dust. This instrument update summarizes Seidr's current design maturity and recent simulations of the point source - to - lantern outputs. We also outline progress on our neural network-based wavefront estimation scheme, which uses the photonic lantern outputs to sense phase fluctuations, designed to feed back to Baldr's deformable mirror, and improve nuller light injection.

Authors 16

1. Nathan K. Long

   The University of Sydney

   Affiliation as printed

   Astralis-USyd , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) , School of Physics , University of Sydney , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

2. Daniel S. Dahl

   The University of Sydney

   Affiliation as printed

   Astralis-USyd , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) , School of Physics , University of Sydney , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

3. Christopher H. Betters
   Affiliation as printed

   Sydney Astrophotonics Instrumentation Laboratories , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) ,

4. Julia J. Bryant

   The University of Sydney

   Affiliation as printed

   Astralis-USyd , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) , School of Physics , University of Sydney , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

5. Nick Cvetojević

   Université Côte d'Azur · Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur

   Affiliation as printed

   Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur , Université Côte d'Azur , Nice , France

6. Michael Ireland

   Australian National University

   Affiliation as printed

   Astralis-AITC , Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics , Australian National University , Canberra , ACT , Australia

7. Stefan Kraus

   University of Exeter

   Affiliation as printed

   Astrophysics Group , University of Exeter , Exeter , United Kingdom

8. Sergio León-Saval
   Affiliation as printed

   Sydney Astrophotonics Instrumentation Laboratories , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) ,

9. Frantz Martinache

   Université Côte d'Azur · Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur

   Affiliation as printed

   Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur , Université Côte d'Azur , Nice , France

10. Marc-Antoine Martinod

    Université Côte d'Azur · Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur

    Affiliation as printed

    Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur , Université Côte d'Azur , Nice , France

11. Barnaby R. M. Norris

    The University of Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    Astralis-USyd , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) , School of Physics , University of Sydney , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

    Sydney Astrophotonics Instrumentation Laboratories , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) ,

12. Jyotirmay Paul

    University of Exeter

    Affiliation as printed

    Astrophysics Group , University of Exeter , Exeter , United Kingdom

13. Akira Rodziewicz-Ryan

    The University of Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    Astralis-USyd , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) , School of Physics , University of Sydney , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

14. Adam K. Taras Aachen

    Leiden University · The University of Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    Astralis-USyd , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) , School of Physics , University of Sydney , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

    Leiden University , Leiden , Netherlands

15. Jin Wei

    The University of Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    Sydney Astrophotonics Instrumentation Laboratories , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) ,

    University of Sydney , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

16. P Tuthill

    The University of Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    Astralis-USyd , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) , School of Physics , University of Sydney , Camperdown , NSW , Australia

    Sydney Astrophotonics Instrumentation Laboratories , Sydney Institute for Astronomy (SIfA) ,