POKEMON: print optimization for kilo-fiber experiments using micro-optics and nanostructures

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Delamer, Megan, Mahadevan, Suvrath, Bender, Chad, Longworth, Ceiwynn, Angel, Roger, Berkson, Joel, Choi, On To Sonja, Gehoski, Kathleen, Monson, Andy, Schwab, Chrisitan
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Delamer, Megan
Mahadevan, Suvrath
Bender, Chad
Longworth, Ceiwynn
Angel, Roger
Berkson, Joel
Choi, On To Sonja
Gehoski, Kathleen
Monson, Andy
Schwab, Chrisitan
author_facet Delamer, Megan
Mahadevan, Suvrath
Bender, Chad
Longworth, Ceiwynn
Angel, Roger
Berkson, Joel
Choi, On To Sonja
Gehoski, Kathleen
Monson, Andy
Schwab, Chrisitan
contents The most pressing problems in modern astrophysics have often required the largest telescopes. With the cost scaling of mirror diameters, the field as a whole is faced with a challenge -- how to replicate or improve on the collecting area and sensitivity of the current generation of ELTs, which already boast 30 m class apertures and are multi-billion dollar facilities. One such approach is being pursued by the Large Fiber Array Spectroscopic Telescope (LFAST) -- a scalable array telescope. Each element of the array will consist of multiple mirrors each feeding to an individual fiber; with those fiber feeds feeding optical and infrared spectrometers. Coupling fiber bundle to spectrometer slit input must be optimized to take full advantage of the photon collecting ability of the telescope array, requiring precise alignment of microlenses to each fiber. Advances in two photon polymerization processes (2PP) now allow for optical quality microlenses with wavefront aberrations as small as $λ/20 to be created, opening up the design parameter of bespoke optical design and custom fabricated lenses. We present our approach to tackling these coupling problems with rapid prototyping and detailed quantification of the tolerances of the lenses. Our approach leverages our access to the Nanoscribe GT2 system at Penn State, enabling tests of new optically transparent resins like IPX-Clear to explore multiple design approaches. Our goal is to share our results and enable wider use of these techniques for astronomical applications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_00181
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle POKEMON: print optimization for kilo-fiber experiments using micro-optics and nanostructures
Delamer, Megan
Mahadevan, Suvrath
Bender, Chad
Longworth, Ceiwynn
Angel, Roger
Berkson, Joel
Choi, On To Sonja
Gehoski, Kathleen
Monson, Andy
Schwab, Chrisitan
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
The most pressing problems in modern astrophysics have often required the largest telescopes. With the cost scaling of mirror diameters, the field as a whole is faced with a challenge -- how to replicate or improve on the collecting area and sensitivity of the current generation of ELTs, which already boast 30 m class apertures and are multi-billion dollar facilities. One such approach is being pursued by the Large Fiber Array Spectroscopic Telescope (LFAST) -- a scalable array telescope. Each element of the array will consist of multiple mirrors each feeding to an individual fiber; with those fiber feeds feeding optical and infrared spectrometers. Coupling fiber bundle to spectrometer slit input must be optimized to take full advantage of the photon collecting ability of the telescope array, requiring precise alignment of microlenses to each fiber. Advances in two photon polymerization processes (2PP) now allow for optical quality microlenses with wavefront aberrations as small as $λ/20 to be created, opening up the design parameter of bespoke optical design and custom fabricated lenses. We present our approach to tackling these coupling problems with rapid prototyping and detailed quantification of the tolerances of the lenses. Our approach leverages our access to the Nanoscribe GT2 system at Penn State, enabling tests of new optically transparent resins like IPX-Clear to explore multiple design approaches. Our goal is to share our results and enable wider use of these techniques for astronomical applications.
title POKEMON: print optimization for kilo-fiber experiments using micro-optics and nanostructures
topic Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.00181