Fiber-connectorized ultrafast-laser-inscribed K-band integrated optics beam combiner for the CHARA telescope array

Jacopo Siliprandi*, David G. MacLachlan, Calum A. Ross, Tarun K. Sharma, Lucas Labadie, Kalaga Madhav, Abani S. Nayak, Aline N. Dinkelaker, Martin M. Roth, Nicholas J. Scott, Vincent Coudé du Foresto, Robert R. Thomson, Aurélien Benoit

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

A fiber-connectorized K-band integrated-optics two-telescope beam combiner was developed for long-baseline interferometry at the CHARA telescope array utilizing the ultrafast laser inscription (ULI) technique. Single-mode waveguide insertion losses were measured to be ∼1.1 dB over the 2–2.3 µm window. The development of asymmetric directional couplers enabled the construction of a beam combiner that includes a 50:50 coupler for interferometric combination and two ∼75 : 25 couplers for photometric calibration. The visibility of the bare beam combiner was measured at 87% and then at 82% after fiber-connectorization by optimizing the input polarization. These results indicate that ULI technique can fabricate efficient fiber-connectorized K-band beam combiners for astronomical purposes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)159-166
Number of pages8
JournalApplied Optics
Volume63
Issue number1
Early online date21 Dec 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Engineering (miscellaneous)
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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