Photonic Technologies for Astronomical Instruments

天文仪器的光子技术

• 批准号: ST/V000403/1
• 负责人: Robert Thomson
• 金额: $ 113.8万
• 依托单位: Heriot-Watt University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FV000403%2F1
• 关键词: Photonic; Technologies; Astronomical; Instruments

To perform astronomy, we generally require two pieces of equipment. The first is a telescope, which collects and concentrates the signal of interest from space. The second is an instrument, which analyses the properties of the signal concentrated by the telescope. The limits to the knowledge we can gain about the universe are entirely determined by the performance of these two pieces of equipment, and they are of equal importance - a good telescope with a bad instrument is of little use, and vice versa.The performance of any instrument (e.g. sensitivity and precision) is determined and limited by the performance of the technologies that are available at the time of development. For example, if better detectors are available, instruments can be constructed that can observe fainter objects such as more distant galaxies. If more precise and stable calibration technologies are available, we can finely track small changes in the signal from a source over long time-periods, enabling us to detect small Earth-like planets, and potentially even enabling us to observe the expansion of the universe in real-time!In order to continue to increase the performance of astronomical instruments operating in and around the optical region of the electromagnetic spectrum, we must develop new technologies that allow us to efficiently manipulate, detect and calibrate the light captured by the telescope. One option here is to exploit advanced "photonic" technologies and techniques. Photonics is the broad area of science concerned with the generation, manipulation and detection of light. Modern photonic technologies include lasers and optical fibres - technologies that have revolutionised our world. The overarching aim of this STFC Consortium Grant is to bring together a critical mass of UK experts in the fields of photonics and astronomical instrumentation, with the specific aim of securing the UK's position as a global leader in the field of "astrophotonics", and opening the way to a new generation of optical astronomical instruments with unprecedented performance.Informed by instrumentation priorities over the coming decade, we will perform fundamental technology research in three main areas by developing:- advanced photonic laser manufacturing techniques to fabricate monolithic glass optical sub-systems, enabling more efficient and lower cost instruments with enhanced instrument design freedom. - versatile precision laser calibration sources that are specifically tailored to meet the demands of future astronomy, and that are suitable for widespread adoption.- bespoke low-loss optical fibres which can be used to flexibly route light from the telescope to instruments for analysis without degrading the spatial and spectral properties of the light.This project will lay the foundation for leading UK roles in the next generation of astronomical optical instruments. The vastly improved performance compared to current facilities will give increased scientific output, and ultimately deliver new insights to our understanding of the universe.

要执行天文学，我们通常需要两件设备。第一个是望远镜，它从空间收集并集中了感兴趣的信号。第二个是一种仪器，该仪器分析了望远镜集中的信号的性质。我们可以获得的有关宇宙的知识的限制完全取决于这两种设备的性能，并且它们具有同等的重要性 - 具有不良仪器的好望远镜很少使用，反之亦然。任何仪器的性能（例如敏感性和精度）是由开发时可用的技术提供的。例如，如果有更好的检测器，可以构建可以观察到更遥远的星系等较弱对象的仪器。如果有更精确且稳定的校准技术，我们可以在长时间的周期内从源中进行细微的跟踪信号的微小变化，使我们能够检测到类似地球的小行星，甚至有潜在的甚至有可能使我们可以实时观察宇宙的扩展！有效地操纵，检测和校准望远镜捕获的光。这里的一种选择是利用先进的“光子”技术和技术。光子学是科学的广泛领域，与光的产生，操纵和检测有关。现代光子技术包括激光和光纤 - 彻底改变了我们世界的技术。这项STFC财团赠款的总体目的是将光子学和天文学仪器领域的批判众多专家汇集在一起​​，具体的目的是确保英国在“天体植物学”领域的全球领导者的地位，并为未经培养物的新一代构成依据而在“天体植物学”领域中逐渐开放，我们将在三个方面进行依据。通过开发： - 高级光子激光制造技术来制造整体玻璃光学子系统，从而使仪器设计自由度具有更高的效率和较低的成本仪器。 - 多功能精确的激光校准来源，专门针对未来天文学的需求量身定制，适合广泛采用。-定制的低损失光纤纤维可灵活地从望远镜上伸出望远镜的仪器，以使仪器以分析仪器的分析而无需降低光线和光谱的范围。与当前设施相比，性能大大提高将使科学产出增加，并最终为我们对宇宙的理解提供新的见解。

项目成果

Dynamic measurements at up to 130-kHz sampling rates using Ti:sapphire dual-comb distance metrology

• DOI: 10.1364/oe.433871
• 发表时间: 2021-12-06
• 期刊: OPTICS EXPRESS
• 影响因子: 3.8
• 作者: Mitchell, Toby;Sun, Jinghua;Reid, Derryck T.
• 通讯作者: Reid, Derryck T.

Investigating focus elongation using a spatial light modulator for high-throughput ultrafast-laser-induced selective etching in fused silica.

研究使用空间光调制器在熔融石英中进行高通量超快激光诱导选择性蚀刻的焦点伸长。

• DOI: 10.1364/oe.454280
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Optics express
• 影响因子: 3.8
• 作者: McArthur SR

Continuous ultraviolet to blue-green astrocomb

连续紫外至蓝绿色星梳

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45924-6
• 发表时间: 2024
• 期刊: Nature Communications
• 影响因子: 16.6
• 作者: Cheng Y

Feed-forward stabilization of a single-frequency, diode-pumped Pr:YLF-Cr:LiCAF laser operating at 813.42 nm.

工作波长为 813.42 nm 的单频二极管泵浦 Pr:YLF-Cr:LiCAF 激光器的前馈稳定性。

• DOI: 10.1364/oe.476355
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Optics express
• 影响因子: 3.8
• 作者: Cheng YS

Laser-frequency-comb calibration for the Extremely Large Telescope: an OPO-based infrared astrocomb covering the H and J bands

• DOI: 10.1364/josab.421310
• 发表时间: 2021-07
• 期刊: Journal of The Optical Society of America B-optical Physics
• 影响因子: 1.9
• 作者: Yuk Shan Cheng;D. Xiao;R. McCracken;D. Reid