3D-M3: High-spatial resolution spectroscopy with extreme AO and 3D printed micro-lenslets

TL;DR

This paper presents a high-spatial resolution spectroscopic instrument combining extreme adaptive optics and 3D-printed micro-lenslets, enabling detailed observations near the diffraction limit of large telescopes.

Contribution

Introduction of a novel integral field unit with 3D-printed micro-lenslets coupled to a single-mode fiber for enhanced light collection at NIR wavelengths.

Findings

Successful on-sky demonstration at Subaru Telescope

Effective coupling of light into fibers with minimal platescale

Potential for rapid, low-cost development of high-resolution spectrographs

Abstract

By combining IFS with ExAO we are now able to resolve objects close to the diffraction-limit of large telescopes, exploring new science cases. We introduce an IFU designed to couple light with a minimal platescale from the SCExAO facility at NIR wavelengths to a SM spectrograph. The IFU has a 3D-printed MLA on top of a custom SM MCF, to optimize the coupling of light into the fiber cores. We demonstrate the potential of the instrument via initial results from the first on-sky runs at the 8.2 m Subaru Telescope with a spectrograph using off-the-shelf optics, allowing for rapid development with low cost.