Laboratory demonstration of a Photonic Lantern Nuller in monochromatic and broadband light

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2404.01426
• Publication Date: 2024-04-01
• Authors: Yinzi Xin; Daniel Echeverri; Nemanja Jovanović; Dimitri Mawet; Sergio G. Leon-Saval; Rodrigo Amezcua‐C...; Stephanos Yerolat...; Michael P. Fitzge...; Pradip Gatkine; Yoo Jung Kim; Jonathan Lin; Barnaby Norris; Garreth Ruane; Steph Sallum
• Keywords: Lantern; Monochromatic color

Photonic lantern nulling (PLN) is a method for enabling the detection and characterization of close-in exoplanets by exploiting symmetries ports mode-selective photonic (MSPL) to cancel out starlight. A six-port MSPL provides four where on-axis starlight suppressed, while off-axis planet light coupled with efficiencies that vary as function planet's spatial position. We characterize properties in laboratory perform first testbed demonstration PLN monochromatic (1569 nm) broadband (1450 nm 1625 nm), each using two orthogonal polarizations. compare measured throughput maps those predicted simulations lantern's modes. find morphologies are reproduced simulations, though real lossy has lower throughputs overall. The ratios stellar leakage peak around 10^(-2), likely limited wavefront errors. These null-depths already sufficient observing young gas giants at diffraction limit ground-based observatories. Future work includes control further improve nulls, well testing validating on-sky.