Multicore fibre photonic lanterns for precision radial velocity science

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel multicore fibre photonic lantern designed to enhance precision radial velocity measurements by providing stable, low-noise, and efficient light transmission suitable for compact astronomical instruments.

Contribution

The paper presents an original multicore fibre design with multimode photonic lantern ports that offers high coupling efficiency, modal stability, and low loss across a broad wavelength range, improving photometric stability.

Findings

Preliminary results for a 511-core MCF show promising performance.

Compared with current octagonal fibres, the new design offers improved stability and efficiency.

The design supports high signal-to-noise applications in astronomy.

Abstract

Envisioning more compact and cost accessible astronomical instruments is now possible with existing photonic technologies like specialty optical fibres, photonic lanterns and ultrafast laser inscribed chips. We present an original design of a multicore fibre (MCF) terminated with multimode photonic lantern ports. It is designed to act as a relay fibre with the coupling effciency of a multimode fibre, modal stability similar to a single-mode fibre and low loss in a wide range of wavelengths (380 nm to 860 nm). It provides phase and amplitude scrambling to achieve a stable near field and far field output illumination pattern despite input coupling variations, and low modal noise for increased photometric stability for high signal-to-noise applications such as precision radial velocity (PRV) science. Preliminary results are presented for a 511-core MCF and compared with current state of the art octagonal fibre.