He'e-Lab: A modular testbed for astrophotonics and wavefront sensing development

Sebastien Vievard; Christopher Hamner; Nour Skaf; Dylan Hively; Michael Bottom; Mark Chun; Christoph Baranec; Olivier Guyon; Julien Lozi; Aidan Walk; Josh Corn; Branden Allen; Elsa Huby; Sylvestre Lacour; Guillermo Martin; Manon Lallement; Vincent Deo

arXiv · 2608.04316

He'e-Lab: A modular testbed for astrophotonics and wavefront sensing development

Sebastien Vievard·Christopher Hamner·Nour Skaf·Dylan Hively·Michael Bottom·Mark Chun·Christoph Baranec·Olivier Guyon·Julien Lozi·Aidan Walk·Josh Corn·Branden Allen·Elsa Huby·Sylvestre Lacour·Guillermo Martin·Manon Lallement·Vincent Deo

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Abstract

Advanced astronomical instrumentation requires accessible, reconfigurable platforms to validate novel technologies and algorithms before on-sky deployment. We present the design, architecture, and alignment validation of the Hawaii Experimental Engineering Lab (He'e-Lab), a state-of-the-art modular testbed dedicated to two complementary research tracks: (A) the integration and characterization of astrophotonics components within a real-time computing loop, and (B) the development of advanced wavefront sensing and control (WFS&C) algorithms. The testbed features a broadband supercontinuum source (500 nm to 2 microns), a high-order 1k-actuator Boston Micromachines deformable mirror, and a 37-segment hexagonal mirror assembly providing piston-tip-tilt control to emulate segmented apertures like Keck and JWST. Downstream capabilities include a HASO 126 Shack-Hartmann sensor, a real-time computing environment driven by the CACAO package, and a modular injection platform coupled to a visible-wavelength spectrograph (R3, 000). We report on the successful system alignment and outline the roadmap for upcoming adaptive optics and photonic device validation frameworks.

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Sebastien Vievard, Christopher Hamner, Nour Skaf, Dylan Hively, Michael Bottom, Mark Chun, Christoph Baranec, Olivier Guyon, Julien Lozi, Aidan Walk, Josh Corn, Branden Allen, Elsa Huby, Sylvestre Lacour, Guillermo Martin, Manon Lallement, Vincent Deo. 2026-08-05. He'e-Lab: A modular testbed for astrophotonics and wavefront sensing development. https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.04316

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