Demonstrating the integration of a photonic lantern with an all-fiber-based nulling interferometer

Jordan Diaz; Rebecca Jensen-Clem; Philip M. Hinz; Daren Dillon; Pradip Gatkine; Aditya R. Sengupta; Dan Sirbu; Sarah Tedder; Kevin Bundy; Brian Vyhnalek; Steph Sallum; Matthew C. DeMartino; Stephen Eikenberry; Peter Delfyett; Rodrigo Amezcua-Correa

arXiv · 2607.24737

Demonstrating the integration of a photonic lantern with an all-fiber-based nulling interferometer

Jordan Diaz·Rebecca Jensen-Clem·Philip M. Hinz·Daren Dillon·Pradip Gatkine·Aditya R. Sengupta·Dan Sirbu·Sarah Tedder·Kevin Bundy·Brian Vyhnalek·Steph Sallum·Matthew C. DeMartino·Stephen Eikenberry·Peter Delfyett·Rodrigo Amezcua-Correa

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Abstract

High-contrast imaging of Solar System scale exoplanets and protoplanets demands advancements in instrumentation to access deeper starlight suppression at smaller angular separations than today's state-of-the-art. The multi-mode to single-mode conversion capabilities of photonic lanterns (PLs) provide new avenues to implement techniques such as nulling interferometry due to the inherent spatial filtering of single-mode waveguides. In this work, we present laboratory results on an all-fiber-based focal plane nulling interferometer using off-the-shelf components operating at 1550 nm. We demonstrate the implementation of a PL for coupling light into the instrument, and compare it to the case when laser light is directly fed into the interferometer. The integration of a PL with the interferometer evidences their potential for feeding photonic-based science instruments. Additionally, we discuss expanding the concept of the instrument for the detection of accreting protoplanets.

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Jordan Diaz, Rebecca Jensen-Clem, Philip M. Hinz, Daren Dillon, Pradip Gatkine, Aditya R. Sengupta, Dan Sirbu, Sarah Tedder, Kevin Bundy, Brian Vyhnalek, Steph Sallum, Matthew C. DeMartino, Stephen Eikenberry, Peter Delfyett, Rodrigo Amezcua-Correa. 2026-07-27. Demonstrating the integration of a photonic lantern with an all-fiber-based nulling interferometer. https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.24737

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