![]() ![]() Recently, we have demonstrated the potential of a hybrid astrophotonic device, consisting of a multi-core fiber photonic lantern and a 3D waveguide reformatting component, to efficiently reformat the multimode point spread function of a telescope to a diffracted limited pseudo-slit. New relays constructed of monocentric triplets of object-centred mirrors are presented for which pupils are accessible without vignetting. The “generalized Offner” solutions differ from the well-known Offner relay in that the primary and tertiary mirrors have different radii, and there is no limitation in the ratio of these radii, other than that Petzval curvature be corrected. We say “re-discovered” because Offner presented exactly this information in his 1973 patent, but this fact seems to have generally eluded the optical design community. Recently it has been “re-discovered” that the Offner design is a special case of a more general family of designs, all sharing exactly the same imaging characteristics and optical correction of 3rd and 5th order aberrations. ![]() A drawback of the design for some applications is that for telecentric objects the pupil is located at the secondary mirror and for near-telecentric objects (such as are commonly produced by astronomical telescopes) the pupil lies in the confusion of rays near to the secondary mirror. The 3-concentric-spherical-mirror, object-centered, unit-magnification catoptric relay designed by Abe Offner combines excellent aberration correction with extreme optical simplicity. Initial results with a white light source and a laser pump depict the parameters of the method. We produced a number of samples of a wide-band solid-state dye (DCM within PMMA), because the expected number of (stellar) photons is small, and a solid-state dye is easier to handle compared to a dye solution. The reconstructed image is resolved beyond the limit of the same optical system in the absence of amplification. This algorithm is applied on simulated detection events of an amplified signal. We characterise the average number of spontaneous photons in all pixels, and subtract it from the stimulated photons. A pixel with additional hidden thermal signal will slightly modify the Poisson statistics, and only within the diffraction pattern of the photon packets. However, the stimulated photons are spatially and temporally coherent with the incoming photons. The detection of spontaneous photons follows the same Poisson statistics in time and space. Thus the problem of low resolution is replaced by the problem of low SNR. The spontaneous photons guarantee the uncertainty principle. Unfortunately, spontaneous emission contributes noise and negates the possible gain from this stimulated emission. A number of entangled photons, created by amplification of a single photon, behaves as a single quantum system with respect to the uncertainty principle. ![]() A new technique suggests to overcome the diffraction limit via optical amplification. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle tells us that it’s impossible to determine simultaneously the position of a photon crossing a telescope's aperture as well as the angle of its momentum. Finally, we present APD’s current strategic technology maturation priorities for investment, enabling a range of future strategic astrophysics missions. We show an analysis of the rate of TRL advances, infusion success stories, and other benefits such as training the future astrophysics workforce, including students and postdoctoral fellows hired by projects. ![]() We present the portfolio distribution in terms of specific technology areas addressed, including optics, detectors, coatings, coronagraphs, starshades, lasers, electronics, cooling systems, and micro-thruster subsystems. Since program inception, 100 SAT grants have been openly competed and awarded, along with dozens of direct-funded projects, leading to a host of technologies advancing their TRLs and/or being infused into space and suborbital missions and ground-based projects. The NASA Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) Program was established in 2009 as a new technology maturation program to fill the gap in the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) range from 3 to 6. These technology development efforts are managed by the Physics of the Cosmos (PCOS), Cosmic Origins (COR), and Exoplanet Exploration (E圎) Programs. NASA’s Astrophysics Division (APD) funds development of cutting-edge technology to enable its missions to achieve ambitious and groundbreaking science goals. ![]()
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