Photonic Technologies for Astronomical Instruments

为了进行天文学研究，我们通常需要两件设备。第一个是望远镜，它收集和集中来自太空的感兴趣的信号。第二个是仪器，它分析望远镜集中的信号的特性。我们所能获得的关于宇宙的知识的限度完全取决于这两件设备的性能，它们同样重要--一台好的望远镜配上一台坏的仪器是没有什么用处的，反之亦然。任何仪器的性能（例如灵敏度和精度）都是由当时所能获得的技术的性能决定和限制的。例如，如果有更好的探测器，就可以制造出可以观测更遥远星系等较暗物体的仪器。如果有更精确和稳定的校准技术，我们可以在很长一段时间内精细地跟踪来自源的信号的微小变化，使我们能够检测到类似地球的小行星，甚至有可能使我们能够实时观察宇宙的膨胀！为了继续提高在电磁波谱光学区域及其周围运行的天文仪器的性能，我们必须开发新技术，使我们能够有效地操纵、探测和校准望远镜捕获的光。这里的一个选择是利用先进的“光子”技术和工艺。光子学是与光的产生、操纵和检测有关的广泛的科学领域。现代光子技术包括激光和光纤-这些技术已经彻底改变了我们的世界。STFC财团资助的首要目标是汇集英国光子学和天文仪器领域的专家，以确保英国在“天体光子学”领域的全球领导者地位，并为新一代具有前所未有性能的光学天文仪器开辟道路。了解未来十年仪器的优先事项，我们将在三个主要领域进行基础技术研究：-先进的光子激光制造技术，用于制造单片玻璃光学子系统，从而实现更有效和更低成本的仪器，并增强仪器设计的自由度。- 多功能精密激光校准源，专为满足未来天文学的需求而量身定制，适合广泛采用。定制的低损耗光纤，可用于灵活地将光从望远镜传输到仪器进行分析，而不会降低光的空间和光谱特性。该项目将为英国在下一代天文光学仪器中发挥主导作用奠定基础。与现有设施相比，性能的大幅提高将增加科学产出，并最终为我们对宇宙的理解提供新的见解。

To perform astronomy, we generally require two pieces of equipment. The first is a telescope, which collects and concentrates the signal of interest from space. The second is an instrument, which analyses the properties of the signal concentrated by the telescope. The limits to the knowledge we can gain about the universe are entirely determined by the performance of these two pieces of equipment, and they are of equal importance - a good telescope with a bad instrument is of little use, and vice versa.The performance of any instrument (e.g. sensitivity and precision) is determined and limited by the performance of the technologies that are available at the time of development. For example, if better detectors are available, instruments can be constructed that can observe fainter objects such as more distant galaxies. If more precise and stable calibration technologies are available, we can finely track small changes in the signal from a source over long time-periods, enabling us to detect small Earth-like planets, and potentially even enabling us to observe the expansion of the universe in real-time!In order to continue to increase the performance of astronomical instruments operating in and around the optical region of the electromagnetic spectrum, we must develop new technologies that allow us to efficiently manipulate, detect and calibrate the light captured by the telescope. One option here is to exploit advanced "photonic" technologies and techniques. Photonics is the broad area of science concerned with the generation, manipulation and detection of light. Modern photonic technologies include lasers and optical fibres - technologies that have revolutionised our world. The overarching aim of this STFC Consortium Grant is to bring together a critical mass of UK experts in the fields of photonics and astronomical instrumentation, with the specific aim of securing the UK's position as a global leader in the field of "astrophotonics", and opening the way to a new generation of optical astronomical instruments with unprecedented performance.Informed by instrumentation priorities over the coming decade, we will perform fundamental technology research in three main areas by developing:- advanced photonic laser manufacturing techniques to fabricate monolithic glass optical sub-systems, enabling more efficient and lower cost instruments with enhanced instrument design freedom. - versatile precision laser calibration sources that are specifically tailored to meet the demands of future astronomy, and that are suitable for widespread adoption.- bespoke low-loss optical fibres which can be used to flexibly route light from the telescope to instruments for analysis without degrading the spatial and spectral properties of the light.This project will lay the foundation for leading UK roles in the next generation of astronomical optical instruments. The vastly improved performance compared to current facilities will give increased scientific output, and ultimately deliver new insights to our understanding of the universe.