Dr. Thomas J. McMahon Profile

Dr. Thomas J. McMahon

Project Manager at Univ of Arizona

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (20)

Proceedings Article | 27 September 2023 Presentation

Presentation

Payload design and development of Aspera: the UV SmallSat mission for mapping warm-hot phase gas in nearby galaxy halos

Haeun Chung, Carlos Vargas, Erika Hamden, Thomas McMahon, Peter Behroozi, Ewan Douglas, Miriam Keppler, Nicole Melso, Simran Agarwal, Aafaque Khan, Jessica Li, Sumedha Uppnor, Jacob Chambers, Giulia Ghidoli, Gabe Noriega, Ryan Pecha, Ellie Wolcott, Fernando Coronado, Elijah Garcia, Hannah Tanquary, Daniel Truong, Naomi Yescas, Heejoo Choi, Tom Connors, Jason Corliss, Dave Hamara, Walter Harris, Karl Harshman, Daewook Kim, Corwynn Sauve, Bill Verts, Michael Ward, Dennis Zaritsky, Carl Hergenrother, John Kidd, Sanford Selznick, Oswald Siegmund, Simon Grocott, David Schiminovich, Keri Hoadley

Proceedings Volume 12678, 126780C (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2677212

KEYWORDS: Galactic astronomy, Design and modelling, Ultraviolet radiation, Spectrographs, Optical alignment, Computer generated holography, Ultraviolet telescopes, Ultraviolet detectors, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Tolerancing

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Proceedings Article | 13 December 2020 Poster + Paper

Poster + Paper

Manufacture of 8.4 m segments for the GMT primary mirror

H. Martin, R. Ceragioli, B. Jannuzi, D. W. Kim, J. Kingsley, K Law, A. Loeff, R. Lutz, T. McMahon, S. Meyen, C. J. Oh, M. Tuell, S. Weinberger, S. West, R. Wortley

Proceedings Volume 11451, 114514F (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2590568

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2018 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

The HOSTS survey for exo-zodiacal dust: preliminary results and future prospects

S. Ertel, P. Hinz, D. Defrère, B. Mennesson, G. Kennedy, A. Weinberger, P. Willems, O. Absil, P. Arbo, V. Bailey, C. Beichman, G. Bryden, E. Pinna, J. Power, A. Puglisi, A. Shannon, W. C. Danchi, C. Gelino, J. M. Hill, W. Hoffman, G. Rieke, E. Spalding, J. Stone, A. Vaz, E. Downey, O. Durney, S. Esposito, A. Gaspar, P. Grenz, C. Haniff, J. Leisenring, L. Marion, T. McMahon, R. Millan-Gabet, M. Montoya, K. Morzinski, A. Roberge, E. Serabyn, A. Skemer, K. Stapelfeldt, K. Y. L. Su, V. Vaitheeswaran, M. Wyatt

Proceedings Volume 10698, 106981V (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313685

KEYWORDS: Stars, Planets, Calibration, Statistical analysis, Exoplanets, Space telescopes, Nulling interferometry, Astronomy, Telescopes, Interferometry

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The presence of large amounts of dust in the habitable zones of nearby stars is a significant obstacle for future exo-Earth imaging missions. We executed the HOSTS (Hunt for Observable Signatures of Terrestrial Systems) survey to determine the typical amount of such exozodiacal dust around a sample of nearby main sequence stars. The majority of the data have been analyzed and we present here an update of our ongoing work. Nulling interferometry in N band was used to suppress the bright stellar light and to detect faint, extended circumstellar dust emission. We present an overview of the latest results from our ongoing work. We find seven new N band excesses in addition to the high confidence confirmation of three that were previously known. We find the first detections around Sun-like stars and around stars without previously known circumstellar dust. Our overall detection rate is 23%. The inferred occurrence rate is comparable for early type and Sun-like stars, but decreases from 71^{+11 -20}% for stars with previously detected mid- to far-infrared excess to 11^{+9 -4}% for stars without such excess, confirming earlier results at high confidence. For completed observations on individual stars, our sensitivity is five to ten times better than previous results. Assuming a lognormal luminosity function of the dust, we find upper limits on the median dust level around all stars without previously known mid to far infrared excess of 11.5 zodis at 95% confidence level. The corresponding upper limit for Sun-like stars is 16 zodis. An LBTI vetted target list of Sun-like stars for exo-Earth imaging would have a corresponding limit of 7.5 zodis. We provide important new insights into the occurrence rate and typical levels of habitable zone dust around main sequence stars. Exploiting the full range of capabilities of the LBTI provides a critical opportunity for the detailed characterization of a sample of exozodiacal dust disks to understand the origin, distribution, and properties of the dust.

Proceedings Article | 10 July 2018 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

Manufacture of primary mirror segments for the Giant Magellan Telescope

H. Martin, R. Allen, V. Gasho, B. Jannuzi, D. W. Kim, J. Kingsley, K. Law, A. Loeff, R. Lutz, M. Tuell, S. Weinberger, S. West, T. McMahon, C. J. Oh

Proceedings Volume 10706, 107060V (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312935

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Polishing, Surface finishing, Telescopes, Optical testing, Optics manufacturing, Manufacturing, Optical fabrication, Interferometry

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Proceedings Article | 26 July 2016 Paper

Paper

Engineering aspects of the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory adaptive optics systems

Gregory Taylor, Gustavo Rahmer, Conrad Vogel, Jonathan Kern, Dave Ashby, Tom McMahon, Guido Brusa, Michael Lefebvre, Xianyu Zhang, Douglas Miller, Julian Christou, Richard Sosa

Proceedings Volume 9909, 990903 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234733

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Sensors, Mirrors, Calibration, Control systems, Actuators, Coating, Observatories, Interferometers

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Proceedings Article | 16 September 2015 Paper

Paper

Exoplanet science with the LBTI: instrument status and plans

D. Defrère, P. Hinz, A. Skemer, V. Bailey, W. Hoffmann, E. Downey, J. Leisenring, B. Mennesson, R. Millan-Gabet, M. Montoya, O. Durney, E. Spalding, J. Hill, A. Vaz, M. Skrutskie, O. Absil, M. Kenworthy, S. Esposito, J. Eisner, T. McMahon, J. Stone, M. Nelson, A. Puglisi, J. Wilson

Proceedings Volume 9605, 96051G (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2188912

KEYWORDS: Exoplanets, Interferometry, Error analysis, Telescopes, Nulling interferometry, Planets, Sensors, Adaptive optics, Coronagraphy, Spatial resolution

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

Paper

Commissioning the LBTI for use as a nulling interferometer and coherent imager

Phil Hinz, Vanessa Bailey, D. Defrère, E. Downey, Simone Esposito, J. Hill, William Hoffmann, Manny Montoya, T. McMahon, A. Puglisi, A. Skemer, M. Skrutskie, Vidhya Vaitheeswaran, Amali Vaz, J. Leisenring

Proceedings Volume 9146, 91460T (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057340

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Nulling interferometry, Interferometers, Error analysis, Imaging systems, Telescopes, Stars, Coherence imaging, Sensors, Signal detection

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 2014 Paper

Paper

Co-phasing the Large Binocular Telescope: status and performance of LBTI/PHASECam

D. Defrère, P. Hinz, E. Downey, J. Hill, B. Mennesson, A. Skemer, A. Vaz, D. Ashby, V. Bailey, G. Brusa , J. Christou, W. Danchi, P. Grenz, W. Hoffmann, J. Leisenring, T. McMahon, R. Millan-Gabet, M. Montoya, V. Vaitheeswaran, J. Lozi, K. Powell, C. Veillet

Proceedings Volume 9146, 914609 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057178

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Mirrors, Phase measurement, Interferometry, Nulling interferometry, Sensors, Space telescopes, Interferometers, Infrared imaging, Exoplanets

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Proceedings Article | 24 September 2012 Paper

Paper

TIGER: a high contrast infrared imager for the Giant Magellan Telescope

Thomas McMahon, Thomas Connors, Manny Montoya, Olivier Guyon, Andrew Skemer, Joseph Hora, Vidhya Vaitheeswaran, Alycia Weinberger, Alan Boss, Johanan Codona, Philip Hinz, Olivier Durney, Paul Arbo, William Hoffmann, Volker Tolls

Proceedings Volume 8446, 84461P (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926751

KEYWORDS: Coronagraphy, Adaptive optics, Cameras, Stars, Telescopes, Speckle, Infrared telescopes, Infrared imaging, Infrared radiation, Sensors

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Proceedings Article | 13 September 2012 Paper

Paper

Design and predicted performance of the GMT ground-layer adaptive optics mode

Russell Knox, Guido Brusa, Antonin Bouchez, Vidhya Vaitheeswaran, Tom Connors, Manny Montoya, Philip Hinz, Tom McMahon

Proceedings Volume 8447, 84473R (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926727

KEYWORDS: Stars, Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Turbulence, Point spread functions, Sensors, Device simulation, Laser guide stars, Wavefront sensors, Mirrors

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Proceedings Article | 13 September 2012 Paper

Paper

The Giant Magellan Telescope adaptive optics program

Carmelo Arcidiacono, Guido Agapito, Valdemaro Biliotti, Marco Bonaglia, Runa Briguglio, Lorenzo Busoni, Luca Carbonaro, Simone Esposito, Luca Fini, Enrico Pinna, Fernando Quiros-Pacheco, Alfio Puglisi, Armando Riccardi, Marco Xompero, Rusty Gardhouse, Celine d'Orgeville, Johanan Codona, Timothy Norton, Brian McLeod, John Roll, Antonin Bouchez, Vidhya Vaitheeswaran, Gelys Trancho, Brady Espeland, Oliver Durney, Guido Brusa-Zappellini, Michael Hart, D. Scott Acton, Thomas Connors, Piotr Piatrou, Rodolphe Conan, Thomas McMahon, Francis Bennet, David Weaver, Russell Knox, Edward Kibblewhite, Thomas Gauron, Philip Hinz, Kristina Uhlendorf, Simon Parcell, Manny Montoya, Ian Price, Srikrishna Kanneganti, Mark Ordway, Marcos van Dam

Proceedings Volume 8447, 84471I (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926691

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Wavefront sensors, Telescopes, Mirrors, Sensors, Laser guide stars, Wavefronts, Tomography, Calibration, Atmospheric optics

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Proceedings Article | 12 September 2012 Paper

Paper

First AO-corrected interferometry with LBTI: steps towards routine coherent imaging observations

V. Vaitheeswaran, M. Montoya, M. Nash, Phil Hinz, M. Skrutskie, O. Durney, A. Puglisi, W. Hoffmann, J. Leisenring, V. Bailey, E. Pinna, Simone Esposito, T. Jones, A. Skemer, T. McMahon, P. Arbo, M. Nelson, T. Connors

Proceedings Volume 8445, 84450U (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926746

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Interferometry, Prototyping, Stars, Point spread functions, Coherence imaging, Cameras, Imaging systems, Exoplanets

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Proceedings Article | 22 July 2010 Paper

Paper

OVMS: the optical path difference and vibration monitoring system for the LBT and its interferometers

J. Kraus, V. Naranjo, T. McMahon, J. Little, M. Kürster, M. Brix, G. Weigelt, T. Herbst, J. Esguerra, U. Beckmann, T. Edgin, T. Bertram, R. Green, N. Cushing, D. Ashby, T. Connors, J. Trowitzsch, J. Brynnel, J.-U. Pott, P. Hinz, J. L. Borelli, W. Gässler

Proceedings Volume 7734, 77342Y (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.856693

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Adaptive optics, Interferometers, Mirrors, Control systems, Data archive systems, Observatories, Data acquisition, Interferometry, Distributed computing

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Proceedings Article | 20 July 2010 Paper

Paper

The Large Binocular Telescope mid-infrared camera (LMIRcam): final design and status

T. Jones, M. Skrutskie, J. Wilson, A. Wong, J. Leisenring, V. Vaitheeswaran, E. Solheid, T. McMahon, W. Hoffmann, P. Hinz, M. Nelson, P. Garnavich, O. Durney

Proceedings Volume 7735, 77353H (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857724

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Sensors, Optical filters, Telescopes, L band, Cameras, Optical benches, Mid-IR, Optical instrument design, Electronics

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Proceedings Article | 28 July 2008 Paper

Paper

Status of the LBT interferometer

William Hoffmann, Jihun Kim, Andrea Tozzi, Vidhya Vaitheeswaran, Brian Duffy, Philip Hinz, Thomas McMahon, Manny Montoya, Andy Breuninger, Joe Kraus, Elliott Solheid, Teresa Bippert-Plymate, Tom Connors, Simone Esposito, Richard Nash, Olivier Durney

Proceedings Volume 7013, 701328 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.790211

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Interferometers, Telescopes, Cameras, Observatories, Infrared radiation, Imaging systems, Wavefront sensors, Ferroelectric materials, Infrared imaging

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Proceedings Article | 28 June 2006 Paper

Paper

Characterization of common path phase sensing for nulling interferometry

Philip Hinz, Joe Kraus, Tom Connors, Peter Hill, Tom McMahon

Proceedings Volume 6268, 626831 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672813

KEYWORDS: Servomechanisms, Nulling interferometry, Phase shifts, Interferometers, Wavefront sensors, Beam splitters, Planets, Cameras, Telescopes, Wavefronts

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

Paper

Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer: the universal beam combiner

Philip Hinz, Tom McMahon, Roger Angel, Donald McCarthy, Chien Peng, Tom Connors, William Hoffmann, Andrew Cheng

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.552337

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Telescopes, Interferometers, Adaptive optics, Ferroelectric materials, Interferometry, Point spread functions, Mid-IR, Optical design, Thermography

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Proceedings Article | 16 November 2000 Paper

Paper

Performance of the multiband imaging photometer for SIRTF

Peter Ade, S. Siewert, T. Horne, Doug Kelly, C. Yanoski, G. Rivlis, Gerald Heim, John Stansberry, A. Noriega-Crespa, Erick Young, Thomas McMahon, Jeffrey Beeman, George Rieke, M. Henderson, John Schwenker, William Burmester, Gregory Winters, Kimberly Ennico, M. Hegge, James Cadien, M. Neitenbach, Karl Gordon, Richard Schnurr, Donald Strecker

Proceedings Volume 4131, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.406571

KEYWORDS: Detector arrays, Mirrors, Telescopes, Optical filters, Optical alignment, Space telescopes, Electronics, Far infrared, Photometry, Space operations

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Proceedings Article | 28 August 1998 Paper

Paper

Multiband imaging photometer for SIRTF

Craig Thompson, R. Warden, Erick Young, John Schwenker, David Michika, R. Pearson, Donald Strecker, Kim MacFeely, M. Henderson, D. Wilson, Thomas McMahon, G. B. Heim, George Rieke

Proceedings Volume 3356, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.324501

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Staring arrays, Electronics, Sensors, Control systems, Space telescopes, Germanium, Space operations, Telescopes, Cryogenics

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 1993 Paper

Paper

Mid-Infrared Spectrometer on the Infrared Telescope in Space

Takashi Onaka, Toshihiko Tanabe, Thomas Roellig, Thomas McMahon

Proceedings Volume 1946, (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.158677

KEYWORDS: Space telescopes, Sensors, Calibration, Telescopes, Infrared radiation, Spectroscopy, Amplifiers, Multiplexers, Mid-IR, Electronics

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Showing 5 of 20 publications

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