Spectroscopy using a visible photonic lantern at the Subaru Telescope: Laboratory characterization and the first on-sky demonstration on Ikiiki (<i>α</i> Leo) and ‘Aua (<i>α</i> Ori)

Context. Photonic lanterns (PLs) are waveguide devices enabling high-throughput single-mode spectroscopy and high angular resolution. Aims. We aim to present the first on-sky demonstration of a PL operating in visible light, to measure its throughput and assess its potential for high-resolution spectroscopy of compact objects. Methods. We used the SCExAO instrument (a double-stage extreme adaptive optics system installed at the Subaru Telescope) and FIRST mid-resolution spectrograph (R 3000) to test the visible capabilities of the PL on internal source and on-sky observations. Results. The best averaged coupling efficiency over the PL field of view was measured at 51% ± 10%, with a peak at 80%. We also investigated the relationship between coupling efficiency and the Strehl ratio for a PL, comparing them with those of a single-mode fiber (SMF). Findings show that in the adaptive optics regime a PL offers a better coupling efficiency performance than an SMF, especially in the presence of low-spatial-frequency aberrations. We observed Ikiiki ( α Leo – m R = 1.37) and ‘Aua ( α Ori – m R = −1.17) at a frame rate of 200 Hz. Under median seeing conditions (about 1 arcsec measured in the H band) and large tip or tilt residuals (over 20 mas), we estimated an average light coupling efficiency of 14.5% ± 7.4%, with a maximum of 42.8% at 680 nm. We were able to reconstruct both star’s spectra, containing various absorption lines. Conclusions. The successful demonstration of this device opens new possibilities in terms of high-throughput single-mode fiber-fed spectroscopy in the visible. The demonstrated on-sky coupling efficiency performance would not have been achievable with a single SMF injection setup under similar conditions, partly because the residual tip or tilt alone exceeded the field of view of a visible SMF (18 mas at 700 nm). This emphasizes the enhanced resilience of PL technology to such atmospheric disturbances. The additional capabilities in high angular resolution are also promising but still have to be demonstrated in a forthcoming investigation.

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Publication Details

Journal
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Published
2024-09-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202450234
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.01

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article

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)

Sergio G. Leon-Saval, S. Lacour, Nemanja Jovanović, Thayne Currie et al.
3 citations
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
1.01
article

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)

Sergio G. Leon-Saval, S. Lacour, Nemanja Jovanović, Thayne Currie, Stephanos Yerolatsitis, Elsa Huby, Takayuki Kotani, Olivier Guyon, Manon Lallement, G. Perrin, Kyohoon Ahn, Steph Sallum, Barnaby Norris, Pradip Gatkine, Sébastien Vievard, Motohide Tamura, Christopher H. Betters, Vincent Déo, Michael P. Fitzgerald, Miles Lucas, Guillermo Martín, H-D. Kenchington, Rodrigo Amezcua‐Correa, J. Lozi, Y.J. Kim, J. Lin
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Context. Photonic lanterns (PLs) are waveguide devices enabling high-throughput single-mode spectroscopy and high angular resolution. Aims. We aim to present the first on-sky demonstration of a PL operating in visible light, to measure its throughput and assess its potential for high-resolution spectroscopy of compact objects. Methods. We used the SCExAO instrument (a double-stage extreme adaptive optics system installed at the Subaru Telescope) and FIRST mid-resolution spectrograph (R 3000) to test the visible capabilities of the PL on internal source and on-sky observations. Results. The best averaged coupling efficiency over the PL field of view was measured at 51% ± 10%, with a peak at 80%. We also investigated the relationship between coupling efficiency and the Strehl ratio for a PL, comparing them with those of a single-mode fiber (SMF). Findings show that in the adaptive optics regime a PL offers a better coupling efficiency performance than an SMF, especially in the presence of low-spatial-frequency aberrations. We observed Ikiiki ( α Leo – m R = 1.37) and ‘Aua ( α Ori – m R = −1.17) at a frame rate of 200 Hz. Under median seeing conditions (about 1 arcsec measured in the H band) and large tip or tilt residuals (over 20 mas), we estimated an average light coupling efficiency of 14.5% ± 7.4%, with a maximum of 42.8% at 680 nm. We were able to reconstruct both star’s spectra, containing various absorption lines. Conclusions. The successful demonstration of this device opens new possibilities in terms of high-throughput single-mode fiber-fed spectroscopy in the visible. The demonstrated on-sky coupling efficiency performance would not have been achievable with a single SMF injection setup under similar conditions, partly because the residual tip or tilt alone exceeded the field of view of a visible SMF (18 mas at 700 nm). This emphasizes the enhanced resilience of PL technology to such atmospheric disturbances. The additional capabilities in high angular resolution are also promising but still have to be demonstrated in a forthcoming investigation.

Astronomy and AstrophysicsVol. 691
University of Central Florida (US), California Institute of Technology (US), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), The University of Sydney (AU), University of Arizona (US), University of California, Los Angeles (US), University of California, Irvine (US), Subaru (Japan) (JP), Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KR), University of Hawaii at Hilo (US), Sorbonne Université (FR), Sorbonne Paris Cité (FR), Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (FR), Astrobiology Center (JP), Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique (FR), Irvine University (US), National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (JP), The University of Texas at San Antonio (US), The University of Tokyo (JP), Université Grenoble Alpes (FR)
National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences
Openalex Percentile: Top 24%
Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
1.01
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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