Photonic lanterns for high-angular-resolution astronomy: on-sky demonstration and the path to higher-contrast mode-based imaging (Conference Presentation)

Abstract

Diffraction limits the angular resolution achievable by direct imaging. Spatial-mode-based imaging, which measures light in a modal basis, can achieve subdiffraction resolution by preserving phase information. We demonstrate this capability on-sky using a 19-port photonic lantern (PL)-fed spectrometer at the Subaru Telescope (FIRST-PL), achieving 50 μas Hα spectroastrometric precision and revealing disk asymmetry around β CMi. Additional tests with a 3-port PL demonstrate the technique’s robustness with fewer-mode devices. While successful, using a PL alone, which sorts modes on a fixed basis, is sub-optimal for high-contrast observations. We address this limitation by feeding mode-selective PL outputs into an active photonic integrated circuit (PIC), enabling real-time reconfiguration of the measurement basis and simultaneous wavefront sensing. Numerical simulations and initial laboratory results demonstrate the concept, establishing a path toward a configurable mode-based imager.

Authors 26

1. Yoo Jung Kim

   University of California, Los Angeles

   Affiliation as printed

   Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

2. Michael P. Fitzgerald

   University of California, Los Angeles

   Affiliation as printed

   Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

3. Sébastien Vievard

   University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

   Affiliation as printed

   Univ. of Hawai'i (United States)

4. Jonathan Lin

   Ames Research Center

   Affiliation as printed

   NASA Ames Research Ctr. (United States)

5. Yinzi Xin Aachen Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

6. Miles Lucas

   University of Arizona

   Affiliation as printed

   The Univ. of Arizona (United States)

7. Olivier Guyon
   Affiliation as printed

   Subaru Telescope, NAOJ (United States)

8. Julien Lozi
   Affiliation as printed

   Subaru Telescope, NAOJ (United States)

9. Vincent Déo
   Affiliation as printed

   Subaru Telescope, NAOJ (United States)

10. Elsa Huby

    Observatoire de Paris

    Affiliation as printed

    Paris Observatory (France)

11. S. Lacour

    Observatoire de Paris

    Affiliation as printed

    Observatoire de Paris (France)

12. Manon Lallement

    Observatoire de Paris

    Affiliation as printed

    Observatoire de Paris (France)

13. Aidan Walk

    University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of Hawai'i (United States)

14. Sanny Ahmed

    University of California, Los Angeles

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

15. Rodrigo Amezcua‐Correa

    University of Central Florida

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of Central Florida (United States)

16. Pradip Gatkine

    University of California, Los Angeles

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

17. Harry-Dean Kenchington Goldsmith
    Affiliation as printed

    Astrophotonics Australia (Australia)

18. Sergio León-Saval

    The University of Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    The Univ. of Sydney (Australia)

19. Barnaby R. M. Norris

    The University of Sydney

    Affiliation as printed

    The Univ. of Sydney (Australia)

20. Mathias Nowak

    Observatoire de Paris

    Affiliation as printed

    Observatoire de Paris (France)

21. Anusha Pai Asnodkar

    California Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    California Institute of Technology (United States)

22. Steph Sallum

    University of California, Santa Cruz

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of California, Santa Cruz (United States)

23. Jehanne Sarrazin

    Observatoire de Paris

    Affiliation as printed

    Observatoire de Paris (France)

24. Adam Taras Aachen Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

    Leiden University

    Affiliation as printed

    Leiden Univ. (Netherlands)

25. Stephanos Yerolatsitis

    University of Central Florida

    Affiliation as printed

    Univ. of Central Florida (United States)

26. Nemanja J. Jovanovic

    California Institute of Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    California Institute of Technology (United States)