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arXiv · 1803.10420

DARKNESS: A Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector Integral Field Spectrograph for High-Contrast Astronomy

Seth R. Meeker·Benjamin A. Mazin·Alex B. Walter·Paschal Strader·Neelay Fruitwala·Clint Bockstiegel·Paul Szypryt·Gerhard Ulbricht·Gregoire Coiffard·Bruce Bumble·Gustavo Cancelo·Ted Zmuda·Ken Treptow·Neal Wilcer·Giulia Collura·Rupert Dodkins·Isabel Lipartito·Nicholas Zobrist·Michael Bottom·J. Chris Shelton·Dimitri Mawet·Julian C. van Eyken·Gautam Vasisht·Eugene Serabyn
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Abstract

We present DARKNESS (the DARK-speckle Near-infrared Energy-resolving Superconducting Spectrophotometer), the first of several planned integral field spectrographs to use optical/near-infrared Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) for high-contrast imaging. The photon counting and simultaneous low-resolution spectroscopy provided by MKIDs will enable real-time speckle control techniques and post-processing speckle suppression at framerates capable of resolving the atmospheric speckles that currently limit high-contrast imaging from the ground. DARKNESS is now operational behind the PALM-3000 extreme adaptive optics system and the Stellar Double Coronagraph at Palomar Observatory. Here we describe the motivation, design, and characterization of the instrument, early on-sky results, and future prospects.

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Seth R. Meeker, Benjamin A. Mazin, Alex B. Walter, Paschal Strader, Neelay Fruitwala, Clint Bockstiegel, Paul Szypryt, Gerhard Ulbricht, Gregoire Coiffard, Bruce Bumble, Gustavo Cancelo, Ted Zmuda, Ken Treptow, Neal Wilcer, Giulia Collura, Rupert Dodkins, Isabel Lipartito, Nicholas Zobrist, Michael Bottom, J. Chris Shelton, Dimitri Mawet, Julian C. van Eyken, Gautam Vasisht, Eugene Serabyn. 2018-03-28. DARKNESS: A Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector Integral Field Spectrograph for High-Contrast Astronomy. https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873%2Faab5e7

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