A5080239111- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
- Superconducting and THz Device Technology
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism
- Calibration and Measurement Techniques
- Advanced Frequency and Time Standards
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Optical Systems and Laser Technology
- Superconducting Materials and Applications
- Fuel Cells and Related Materials
- CCD and CMOS Imaging Sensors
- Machine Learning in Bioinformatics
- Superconductivity in MgB2 and Alloys
- Thermal Radiation and Cooling Technologies
- Anodic Oxide Films and Nanostructures
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Industrial Vision Systems and Defect Detection
- Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
- Sensor Technology and Measurement Systems
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- Corrosion Behavior and Inhibition
- Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
- Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design
- Soil Moisture and Remote Sensing
Space Telescope Science Institute
2024
University of California, Santa Barbara
2019-2023
Texas A&M University
2023
We present the MKID Exoplanet Camera (MEC), a z through J band (800–1400 nm) integral field spectrograph located behind The Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) at Telescope on Maunakea that utilizes Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) as enabling technology for high contrast imaging. MEC is first permanently deployed near-infrared instrument and designed to operate both an IFU, focal plane wavefront sensor in multi-kHz feedback loop with SCExAO. read noise free,...
Abstract We report the direct imaging discovery of a low-mass companion to nearby accelerating A star, HIP 109427, with Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) instrument coupled Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector Exoplanet Camera (MEC) and CHARIS integral field spectrograph. data reduced reference star point spread function (PSF) subtraction yield 1.1–2.4 μ m spectra. MEC reveals in Y J band at comparable signal-to-noise ratio using stochastic speckle discrimination, no PSF...
We report on the design and performance of Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) sensitive to single photons in optical near-infrared range using hafnium as sensor material. Our test device had a superconducting transition temperature 395 mK room normal state resistivity 97 $\mu \Omega$ cm with an RRR = 1.6. Resonators displayed internal quality factors around 200,000. Similar analysis MKIDs made from other highly resistive superconductors, we find that modeling response detector...
Abstract Light-weighting vehicular components through adoption of light-metal structural alloys holds promise for reducing the fuel consumption internal combustion engine vehicles and increasing range battery electric vehicles. However, alloyed microstructure surface precipitates aluminum render these materials susceptible to corrosion under modest excursions from neutral pH. Traditional chromium-based anodic passivation layers are subject increasingly stringent environmental regulations,...
Superconducting electronics often require high-density microwave interconnects capable of transporting signals between temperature stages with minimal loss, cross talk, and heat conduction. We report the design fabrication superconducting 53 wt% Nb-47 Ti (Nb47Ti) FLexible coAXial ribbon cables (FLAX). The ten traces each consist a 0.076 mm O.D. NbTi inner conductor insulated PFA (0.28 O.D.) sheathed in shared 0.025 thick Nb47Ti outer conductor. cable is terminated G3PO coaxial push-on...
We present the direct imaging discovery of a low-mass companion to nearby accelerating F star, HIP 5319, using SCExAO coupled with CHARIS, VAMPIRES, and MEC instruments in addition Keck/NIRC2 imaging. CHARIS $JHK$ (1.1-2.4 $\mu$m) spectroscopic data combined VAMPIRES 750 nm, $Y$, NIRC2 $L_{\rm p}$ photometry is best matched by an M3--M7 object effective temperature T=3200 K surface gravity log($g$)=5.5. Using relative astrometry for 5319 B from absolute primary $Gaia$ $Hipparcos$ adopting...
Abstract We present an experimental study of photon statistics for high-contrast imaging with the Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector (MKID) Exoplanet Camera (MEC) located behind Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics System at Telescope. show that MEC measures expected distributions both on-axis companion intensity and off-axis intensity, which manifests as quasi-static speckles in image plane currently limits performance. These can be probed by any observation due to...
Hafnium is an elemental superconductor which crystallizes in a hexagonal close packed structure, has transition temperature $T_{C} \simeq 400 mK$, and high normal state resistivity around $90 \mu \Omega. cm$. In Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs), these properties are advantageous since they allow for creating detectors sensitive to optical near infra-red radiation. this work, we study how sputter conditions especially the power applied target during deposition, affect hafnium...
The Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) instrument is a high-contrast imaging system installed at the 8-m Telescope on Maunakea, Hawaii. Due to its unique evolving design, SCExAO both an open for use by international scientific community, and testbed validating new technologies, which are critical future imagers Giant Segmented Mirror Telescopes (GSMTs). Through multiple collaborations over years, was able test most advanced technologies in wavefront sensors, real-time...
Optical and near-IR Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors, or MKIDs, are superconducting photon counting detectors capable of measuring the energy arrival time individual OIR photons without read noise dark current. In this whitepaper we will discuss current status MKIDs MKID-based instruments.
Abstract We present the Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector (MKID) Pipeline, which is a general use science data pipeline for reduction and analysis of ultraviolet, optical, infrared MKID sets. This paper provides an introduction to nature sets, it gives overview calibration steps that are included in pipeline, introduces implementation software.
One of the primary science goals Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) as defined by Astro2020 decadal survey is imaging first Earth-like planet around a Sun-like star. A key technology gap towards reaching this goal are development ultra-low-noise photon counting detectors capable measuring incredibly low count rates coming from these planets which at contrasts $\sim 1 \times 10^{-10}$. Superconducting energy-resolving (ERDs) promising for purpose as, despite their technological challenges,...
We summarize the current best polychromatic (10 to 20 % bandwidth) contrast performance demonstrated in laboratory by different starlight suppression approaches and systems designed directly characterize exoplanets around nearby stars. present results obtained internal coronagraph external starshade experimental testbeds using entrance apertures equivalent off-axis or on-axis telescopes, either monolithic segmented. For a given angular separation spectral bandwidth, of each system is...
We study a mid-order wavefront sensor (MOWFS) to address fine cophasing errors in exoplanet imaging with future large segmented aperture space telescopes. Observing Earth analogs around Sun-like stars requires contrasts down $10^{-10}$ visible light. One promising solution consists of producing high-contrast dark zone the image an observed star. In observatory, this region will be altered by several effects, and among them, small misalignments telescope mirror segments due thermo-mechanical...
We develop a simple coordinate transformation that can be employed to compensate for the nonlinearity introduced by microwave kinetic inductance detector's (MKID) homodyne readout scheme. This system is compared canonically used polar coordinates and shown improve performance of filtering method often estimate photon's energy. For detector where primarily responsible limiting its resolving power, this technique leads increased dynamic range, which we show applying data from hafnium MKID...
The Planetary Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Recoverable Experiment-Coronagraph (PICTURE-C) experiment is balloon-borne observatory for high-contrast imaging of debris disks and exoplanets around nearby stars. This will use 10,000-pixel Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector (MKID) instrument as its science camera. PICTURE-C MKID Camera an integral field spectrograph (IFS) with bandpass λ = 540 − 660 nm that sits behind modest adaptive optics system coronagraph which promise to...
The upcoming Extremely Large Telescopes have the angular resolution and light collecting area that is necessary to observe biosignatures in atmospheres of Earth-like planets. High-contrast imaging instruments will play a large role this because observing planets directly overcomes many observational limitations other exoplanet detection techniques. influence bright star can be significantly reduced by spatially resolving dim planet, allowing characterization planet its atmosphere. However,...
We present The MKID Pipeline, a general use science data pipeline for the reduction and analysis of ultraviolet, optical infrared (UVOIR) Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector (MKID) sets. This paper provides an introduction to nature sets, overview calibration steps included in pipeline, implementation software.
MagAO-X is a visible to near-IR AO system that will enable suite of instruments perform high-contrast, high-resolution science. During its "Phase II" plan 10-kilopixel Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector (MKID) IFU be deployed as science camera behind MagAO-X. MKIDs are photon-counting detectors with energy resolution up 30. The photon counting capability and readout allow for microsecond time no associated read noise. As consequence the high rate MKID can used Focal Plane Wavefront Sensor...