NAIR-APREXIS：为基于光子学的仪器实现长基线干涉测量与积分场光谱观测
NAIR-APREXIS: Enabling photonics-based instruments for long-baseline interferometry and integral-field spectroscopy
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中文总结 AI 辅助
NAIR项目开发了K波段合束器与IFU等光子学仪器，验证了ULI等技术的可行性，为长基线干涉测量等天文观测提供了新方案。
中文摘要 AI 辅助
NAIR项目（基于光子光重排的新型天文仪器）旨在推进红外长基线干涉测量与高精度光谱学的光子技术。过去十年天体光子学的快速发展为天文仪器开辟了具有空前能力的新途径。本文展示了NAIR项目的成果，证明了超快激光刻写（ULI）技术在制造多种应用的重排器件方面的潜力。我们开发了一款单模集成光学天文K波段合束器，已在CHARA阵列的单个基线上完成了成功的地面测试。在多次观测 campaign中，该原型表现出优异的稳定性，实现了干涉测量可见度的1%精度，总地面通过率>40%，使用CHARA的1米望远镜且无外部条纹跟踪时，达到了K~5的极限星等。我们还在开发用于系外行星探测与表征的积分场单元（IFU），该IFU基于天体光子光纤技术——双光子聚合（TPP）微透镜、定制多芯光纤以及ULI重排器，计划于2027年在智利与MagAO-X进行测试。我们讨论了为实现相邻空间像元（spaxels）间1e-3的对比度同时保持>50%通过率所做的努力。最后，我们讨论了下一代天体光子技术的研发工作，包括用于低分辨率、高透射率应用的TPP微色散器，我们在亚毫米封装中实现了R~30，证明了其未来应用的可行性。这些成果强调了集成光子方法的多功能性与简洁性，是天文仪器光学技术的重大进步。
英文摘要
The NAIR project -- Novel Astronomical Instrumentation based on photonic light Reformatting -- aims at advancing photonic technologies for infrared long-baseline interferometry and precision spectroscopy. The rapid development of astrophotonics over the past decade has opened new pathways for astronomical instrumentation with unprecedented capabilities. We present results from NAIR that demonstrate the potential of the ultrafast-laser inscription (ULI) technique for fabricating remapping devices for a range of applications. We developed a single-mode integrated-optics astronomical K-band beam combiner, which we successfully tested on-sky, although using only one single baseline of the CHARA Array. Across several observing campaigns, the prototype exhibited excellent stability, achieving 1% precision on the interferometric visibilities and a total on-sky throughput >40%, with an achieved limiting magnitude of K~5 using the 1-m meter telescopes of CHARA and without external fringe tracking. We are also developing an integral field unit (IFU) designed for exoplanet detection and characterisation. This is due to be tested with MagAO-X in Chile in 2027. The IFU is based upon astrophotonic fiber technologies - two-photon-polymerized (TPP) lenslets, a custom multi-core fiber, and a ULI reformatter. We discuss our efforts to achieve contrasts of 1e-3 between adjacent spaxels whilst retaining throughput of >50%. Finally, we discuss the work we are doing developing the next generation of astrophotonic technologies, including TPP micro-dispersers designed for low resolving power, high transmission applications. We achieve R~30 in a sub-mm package, showing viability for future use. These results emphasize the versatility and simplicity of integrated photonic approaches as a major advance in optical technologies for astronomical instrumentation.
