Multi-core fibre-fed integral field spectrograph (MCIFU) IV: the fiber link

Abstract

The Multi-Core Integral-Field Unit (MCIFU) is a diffraction-limited near-infrared integral-field spectrograph designed to detect and characterise exoplanets and disks in combination with extreme adaptive optics (xAO) instruments. It has been developed by an extended consortium as an experimental pathfinder for medium resolution spectroscopic upgrades for xAO systems. To allow it to achieve its goals we manufactured a fibre link system composed of a custom integrated fiber, with 3D printed microlenses and an ultrafast laser inscribed reformatter. Here we detail the specific requirements of the fibre link, from its design parameters, through its manufacture the laboratory performance and discuss upgrades for the future.

Multi-core fibre-fed integral-field unit (MCIFU): overview and first-light

“…Therefore, we used additive manufacturing 21 to 3D print a microlens array (MLA) on top of the fiber face 22 to efficiently feed the individual cores, more details of the manufacturing of the fiber and micro-lens array can be found in Ref. 23.…”