Minimizing light loss in acquisition and guiding systems for spectroscopic observations in PolyOculus and COTS astronomical telescopes

Every photon of light is precious for astronomical observation. Light losses within telescope guiding systems and or losses via poor fiber coupling are common despite advances in photonic technologies in other industries. At CREOL, we develop a fiber feed assembly and alignment method which minimizes vignetting, light losses, optimizes fiber coupling, and optimizes signal-to-noise within our different COTS telescope guiding systems during astronomical observations. We can apply our techniques to the PolyOculus case and single-unit We present our lithographic etching process, each variation of mechanical and optical alignment processes, the final coupling and assembly process, and how the assembly is integrated into a larger acquisition and guiding system for COTS telescopes.