On-sky single-mode fiber coupling measurements at the Large Binocular Telescope

Andrew Bechter; Jonathan Crass; Ryan Ketterer; Justin R. Crepp; Robert O. Reynolds; Eric Bechter; Philip Hinz; Fernando Pedichini; Michael Foley; Elliott Runburg; Eleanya E. Onuma; Scott Gaudi; Giuseppina Micela; Isabella Pagano; Charles E. Woodward

doi:10.1117/12.2233153

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27 July 2016 On-sky single-mode fiber coupling measurements at the Large Binocular Telescope

Andrew Bechter, Jonathan Crass, Ryan Ketterer, Justin R. Crepp, Robert O. Reynolds, Eric Bechter, Philip Hinz, Fernando Pedichini, Michael Foley, Elliott Runburg, Eleanya E. Onuma, Scott Gaudi, Giuseppina Micela, Isabella Pagano, Charles E. Woodward

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Proceedings Volume 9909, Adaptive Optics Systems V; 99092X (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233153
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2016, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

The demonstration of efficient single-mode fiber (SMF) coupling is a key requirement for the development of a compact, ultra-precise radial velocity (RV) spectrograph. iLocater is a next generation instrument for the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) that uses adaptive optics (AO) to inject starlight into a SMF. In preparation for commissioning iLocater, a prototype SMF injection system was installed and tested at the LBT in the Y-band (0.970–1.065 μm). This system was designed to verify the capability of the LBT AO system as well as characterize on-sky SMF coupling efficiencies. SMF coupling was measured on stars with variable airmasses, apparent magnitudes, and seeing conditions for six half-nights using the Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer. We present the overall optical and mechanical performance of the SMF injection system, including details of the installation and alignment procedure. A particular emphasis is placed on analyzing the instrument's performance as a function of telescope elevation to inform the final design of the fiber injection system for iLocater.

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Andrew Bechter, Jonathan Crass, Ryan Ketterer, Justin R. Crepp, Robert O. Reynolds, Eric Bechter, Philip Hinz, Fernando Pedichini, Michael Foley, Elliott Runburg, Eleanya E. Onuma, Scott Gaudi, Giuseppina Micela, Isabella Pagano, and Charles E. Woodward "On-sky single-mode fiber coupling measurements at the Large Binocular Telescope", Proc. SPIE 9909, Adaptive Optics Systems V, 99092X (27 July 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2233153

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