Prof. Benjamin A. Mazin Profile

Prof. Benjamin A. Mazin

Professor at Univ of California Santa Barbara

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (56)

Proceedings Article | 28 August 2024 Presentation

Comparison of superconducting detector technologies toward the Habitable Worlds Observatory

Matthew Shaw, Boris Korzh, Adam McCaughan, Ben Mazin, Adriana Lita, Paul Szypryt, Jason Allmaras, Brandon Dube, Emma Wollman, Weibo Chen, Dean Johnson

Proceedings Volume PC13103, PC1310308 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3020513

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 28 August 2024 Poster

MKIDGen3: a scalable readout for next-generation kilopixel UVOIR MKIDs

John Bailey, Jennifer Smith, Benjamin Mazin, Gustavo Cancelo, Leandro Stefanazzi, Aled Cuda, Nicholas Zobrist, Kenneth Treptow

Proceedings Volume PC13103, PC1310312 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3020259

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 27 August 2024 Presentation + Paper

MagAO-X: commissioning results and status of ongoing upgrades

Jared Males, Laird Close, Sebastiaan Haffert, Maggie Kautz, Jay Kueny, Joseph Long, Eden McEwen, Noah Swimmer, John Bailey, Warren Foster, Benjamin Mazin, Logan Pearce, Joshua Liberman, Katie Twitchell, Alycia Weinberger, Olivier Guyon, Alexander Hedglen, Avalon McLeod, Roz Roberts, Kyle Van Gorkom, Jialin Li, Isabella Doty, Victor Gasho

Proceedings Volume 13097, 1309709 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3019464

KEYWORDS: Wavefront sensors, Actuators, Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Coronagraphy, Control systems, Stars, Observatories, Cameras

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 6 October 2023 Presentation

MagAO-X: a pathfinder for GMT to operate extreme adaptive optics at the photon noise limit

Sebastiaan Haffert, Jared Males, Laird Close, Olivier Guyon, Joseph Long, Alexander Hedglen, Maggie Kautz, Kyle Van Gorkom, Avalon McLeod, Warren Foster, Eden McEwen, Logan Pearce, Jialin Li, Jay Kueny, Ben Mazin, Noah Swimmer, Jeb Bailey, Sarah Steiger

Proceedings Volume 12680, 1268008 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2677533

KEYWORDS: Coronagraphy, Adaptive optics, Planets, Equipment, Reflection, Imaging systems, Wavefront sensors, Telescopes, Stars, Exoplanetary science

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 5 October 2023 Presentation

Scaling photonic integrated circuits with superconducting microwave kinetic inductance detectors

Majid Mohammad, Miguel Daal, Gopi Meena, Renan Moreira, Ben Mazin, Hawkins Clay, Galan Moody

Proceedings Volume 12673, 126730L (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2677607

KEYWORDS: Waveguides, Resonators, Sapphire, Microwave radiation, Inductance, Photonic integrated circuits, Cladding, Silicon, Superconductors, Multiplexing

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 30 August 2022 Poster + Paper

An updated preliminary optical design and performance analysis of the Planetary Systems Imager adaptive optics system

Rebecca Jensen-Clem, Philip Hinz, M. A. van Kooten, Michael Fitzgerald, Steph Sallum, Benjamin Mazin, Mark Chun, Maxwell Millar-Blanchaer, Andy Skemer, Ji Wang, R. Deno Stelter, Olivier Guyon

Proceedings Volume 12185, 1218546 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2630526

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Actuators, Wavefronts, Imaging systems, Optical design, Coronagraphy, Wavefront sensors, Planetary systems, Atmospheric propagation, Wave propagation

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 30 August 2022 Presentation + Paper

A technology and science gap list for habitable-zone exoplanet imaging with ground-based extremely large telescopes

Rebecca Jensen-Clem, Phil Hinz, Andy Skemer, Peter Wizinowich, Nemanja Jovanovic, Benjamin Mazin, John Bailey, Richard Frazin, Steph Sallum, Jared Males, Motohide Tamura

Proceedings Volume 12185, 1218503 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2630547

KEYWORDS: Planets, Stars, Exoplanets, Coronagraphy, Telescopes, James Webb Space Telescope, Atmospheric sciences, Atmospheric modeling, Large telescopes, Thirty Meter Telescope

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 29 August 2022 Presentation + Paper

The Planetary Systems Imager for TMT: overview and status

Michael Fitzgerald, Steph Sallum, Maxwell Millar-Blanchaer, Rebecca Jensen-Clem, Philip Hinz, Olivier Guyon, Jason Wang, Benjamin Mazin, Andrew Skemer, Mark Chun, Jared Males, Christian Marois, Garima Singh, Claire Max

Proceedings Volume 12184, 1218426 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2630410

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Planets, Wavefront sensors, Imaging spectroscopy, Exoplanets

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 29 August 2022 Poster + Paper

The Planetary Systems Imager for TMT: driving science cases and top level requirements

Stephanie Sallum, Max Millar-Blanchaer, Natasha Batalha, Jason Wang, Raquel Martinez, Michael Fitzgerald, Andy Skemer, Rebecca Jensen-Clem, Benjamin Mazin, Mark Chun, Olivier Guyon, Phil Hinz, Jared Males, Claire Max

Proceedings Volume 12184, 1218446 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2630423

KEYWORDS: Planets, Stars, Exoplanets, Adaptive optics, Solar system, Atmospheric sciences, Planetary systems, Imaging systems

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 29 August 2022 Poster

An MKID camera for use behind MagAO-X

Noah Swimmer, Benjamin Mazin, John Bailey, Jared Males, Gregoire Coiffard, Miguel Daal, Kristina Davis, Paul Szypryt, Seth Meeker, Alexander Walter, Clint Bockstiegel, Neelay Fruitwala, Isabel Lipartito, Nicholas Zobrist, Sarah Steiger, Jennifer Smith, Hawkins Clay

Proceedings Volume 12184, 121843Z (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629573

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Sensors, Exoplanets, Adaptive optics, Wavefront sensors, Visible radiation, Speckle, Photon counting, Photodetectors, Optical filters

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 26 August 2022 Poster

M-MOST: The MKID Multi-Object Echelle(tte) Spectrographic Testbench

John I. Bailey, Benjamin A. Mazin, Jennifer P. Smith, Crystal S. Kim, W. Hawkins Clay, Nicholas Zobrist, Noah J. Swimmer, Sarah Steiger, Miguel Daal

Proceedings Volume 12188, 121884Z (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629519

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Astronomical imaging, Spectrographs, Spectral resolution, Cameras, Target detection, Semiconducting wafers, Optical fabrication, Optical components, Multimode fibers

SPIE Journal Paper | 19 November 2021

Improving the energy resolution of photon counting microwave kinetic inductance detectors using principal component analysis

Jacob Miller, Nicholas Zobrist, Gerhard Ulbricht, Benjamin Mazin

JATIS, Vol. 7, Issue 04, 048003, (November 2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JATIS.7.4.048003

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Principal component analysis, Inductance, Calibration, Microwave radiation, Photon counting, Shape analysis, Data modeling, Signal detection, Photodetectors

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 9 September 2021 Presentation + Paper

The Planetary Systems Imager adaptive optics system: an initial optical design and performance analysis tool for the PSI-Red AO system

Rebecca Jensen-Clem, Philip Hinz, Maaike von Kooten, Michael Fitzgerald, Steph Sallum, Benjamin Mazin, Mark Chun, Claire Max, Maxwell Millar-Blanchaer, Olivier Guyon, Andrew Skemer, R. Deno Stelter, Ji Wang

Proceedings Volume 11823, 1182309 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594005

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Wavefront sensors, Relays, Wavefronts, Mirrors, Telescopes, Coronagraphy, Actuators, Imaging systems, Optical design

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 1 September 2021 Presentation + Paper

High contrast imaging at the photon noise limit with self-calibrating WFS/C systems

Olivier Guyon, Barnaby Norris, Marc-Antoine Martinod, Kyohoon Ahn, Peter Tuthill, Jared Males, Alison Wong, Nour Skaf, Thayne Currie, Kelsey Miller, Steven Bos, Julien Lozi, Vincent Deo, Sebastien Vievard, Ruslan Belikov, Kyle van Gorkom, Sebastiaan Haffert, Benjamin Mazin, Michael Bottom, Richard Frazin, Alexander Rodack, Tyler Groff, Nemanja Jovanovic, Frantz Martinache

Proceedings Volume 11823, 1182318 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594885

KEYWORDS: Calibration, Wavefronts, Imaging systems, Wavefront sensors, Speckle, Planets, Sensors, Photonics, Waveguides, Telescopes

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 1 September 2021 Presentation + Paper

SCExAO: a testbed for developing high-contrast imaging technologies for ELTs

Kyohoon Ahn, Olivier Guyon, Julien Lozi, Sébastien Vievard, Vincent Deo, Nour Skaf, Ruslan Belikov, Steven Bos, Michael Bottom, Thayne Currie, Richard Frazin, Kyle V. Gorkom, Tyler Groff, Sebastiaan Haffert, Nemanja Jovanovic, Hajime Kawahara, Takayuki Kotani, Jared Males, Frantz Martinache, Ben Mazin, Kelsey Miller, Barnaby Norris, Alexander Rodack, Alison Wong

Proceedings Volume 11823, 1182303 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594963

KEYWORDS: Coronagraphy, Telescopes, Human-computer interaction, Speckle, Stars, Adaptive optics, Visible radiation, Exoplanets, Wavefronts, Wavefront sensors

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 1 August 2021 Presentation

On-sky demonstration of stochastic speckle discrimination for companion detection with the MKID Exoplanet Camera (MEC)

Sarah Steiger, Thayne Currie, Timothy Brandt, Olivier Guyon, Masayuki Kuzuhara, Jeffrey Chilcote, Tyler Groff, Julien Lozi, Alexander Walter, Neelay Fruitwala, John Bailey, Nicholas Zobrist, Noah Swimmer, Isabel Lipartito, Jennifer Smith, Clint Bockstiegel, Seth Meeker, Gregoire Coiffard, Rupert Dodkins, Paul Szypryt, Kristina Davis, Miguel Daal, Bruce Bumble, Sebastien Vievard, Ananya Sahoo, Vincent Deo, Nemanja Jovanovic, Frantz Martinache, Motohide Tamura, Benjamin Mazin

Proceedings Volume 11823, 1182307 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594872

KEYWORDS: Speckle, Stochastic processes, Exoplanets, Cameras, Sensors, Point spread functions, Stars, Signal to noise ratio, Photodetectors, Image resolution

Read Abstract +

SPIE Journal Paper | 27 April 2021

End-to-end deep learning pipeline for microwave kinetic inductance detector resonator identification and tuning

Neelay Fruitwala, Alex Walter, John Bailey, Rupert Dodkins, Benjamin Mazin

JATIS, Vol. 7, Issue 02, 028003, (April 2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JATIS.7.2.028003

KEYWORDS: Resonators, Microwave radiation, Inductance, Calibration, Neural networks, Data modeling, Array processing, Sensors, Image classification, Machine learning

Read Abstract +

SPIE Journal Paper | 10 February 2021

Improving the dynamic range of single photon counting kinetic inductance detectors

Nicholas Zobrist, Nikita Klimovich, ByeongHo Eom, Grégoire Coiffard, Miguel Daal, Noah Swimmer, Sarah Steiger, Bruce Bumble, Henry LeDuc, Peter Day, Benjamin Mazin

JATIS, Vol. 7, Issue 01, 010501, (February 2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JATIS.7.1.010501

KEYWORDS: Photons, Sensors, Inductance, Spectral resolution, Single photon, Hafnium, Resonators, Microwave radiation, Signal detection, Data modeling

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 14 December 2020 Poster

4D Point Cloud Semantic Segmentation for Exoplanet Discrimination with MKIDs

Rupert Dodkins, Benjamin Mazin

Proceedings Volume 11451, 114513W (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562881

KEYWORDS: Exoplanets, Neural networks, Single photon detectors, Sensors, Algorithm development, Computer simulations, Microwave radiation, Inductance, Spectral resolution, Error analysis

Proceedings Article | 13 December 2020 Presentation + Paper

Status of the SCExAO instrument: recent technology upgrades and path to a system-level demonstrator for PSI

Julien Lozi, Olivier Guyon, Sébastien Vievard, Ananya Sahoo, Vincent Deo, Nemanja Jovanovic, Barnaby Norris, Marc-Antoine Martinod, Ben Mazin, Alex Walter, Neelay Fruitwala, Sarah Steiger, Kristina Davis, Peter Tuthill, Tomoyuki Kudo, Hajime Kawahara, Takayuki Kotani, Michael Ireland, Theodoros Anagnos, Chrstian Schwab, Nick Cvetojevic, Elsa Huby, Sylvestre Lacour, Kevin Barjot, Tyler Groff, Jeffrey Chilcote, Jeremy Kasdin, Frantz Martinache, Romain Laugier, Mamadou N'Diaye, Justin Knight, Jared Males, Steven Bos, Frans Snik, David Doelman, Kelsey Miller, Eduardo Bendek, Ruslan Belikov, Eugene Pluzhnik, Thayne Currie, Masayuki Kuzuhara, Taichi Uyama, Jun Nishikawa, Naoshi Murakami, Jun Hashimoto, Yosuke Minowa, Christophe Clergeon, Yoshito Ono, Naruhisa Takato, Motohide Tamura, Hideki Takami, Masa Hayashi

Proceedings Volume 11448, 114480N (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562832

KEYWORDS: Imaging systems, Telescopes, Infrared sensors, Infrared imaging, Coronagraphy, Wavefront sensors, Sensors, Detection and tracking algorithms, Cameras, Wavefronts

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 13 December 2020 Presentation + Paper

Validating advanced wavefront control techniques on the SCExAO testbed/instrument

Olivier Guyon, Julien Lozi, Sebastien Vievard, Ruslan Belikov, Eduardo Bendek, Steven Bos, Thayne Currie, Vincent Deo, Michael Fitzgerald, Damien Gratadour, Tyler Groff, Nemanja Jovanovic, Hajime Kawahara, Takayuki Kotani, Tomoyuki Kudo, Coline Lopez, Hatem Ltaief, Jared Males, Frantz Martinache, Marc-Antoine Martinod, Benjamin Mazin, Kelsey Miller, Barnaby Norris, Mamadou Ndiaye, Eugene Pluzhnyk, Ananya Sahoo, Arnaud Sevin, Nour Skaf, Frans Snik, Motohide Tamura, Alison Wong

Proceedings Volume 11448, 114481Z (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562723

KEYWORDS: Wavefronts, Adaptive optics, Coronagraphy, Prototyping, Sensor fusion, Cameras, Hardware testing, Multiplexing, Wavefront sensors, Reliability

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 13 December 2020 Poster + Paper

Calibration of the instrumental polarization effects of SCExAO-CHARIS’ spectropolarimetric mode

Rob van Holstein, Steven Bos, Jasper Ruigrok, Julien Lozi, Olivier Guyon, Barnaby Norris, Frans Snik, Jeffrey Chilcote, Thayne Currie, Tyler Groff, Joost 't Hart, Nemanja Jovanovic, Jeremy Kasdin, Tomoyuki Kudo, Frantz Martinache, Ben Mazin, Ananya Sahoo, Motohide Tamura, Sébastien Vievard, Alex Walter, Jin Zhang

Proceedings Volume 11447, 114475B (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2576188

KEYWORDS: Polarization, Calibration, Telescopes, Polarimetry, Visible radiation, Stars, Spectrographs, Quartz, Prisms, Magnesium fluoride

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 13 December 2020 Poster + Paper

The PICTURE-C MKID camera

Noah Swimmer, Benjamin Mazin, Clint Bockstiegel, John Bailey, Gregoire Coiffard, Miguel Daal, Kristina Davis, Neelay Fruitwala, Isabel Lipartito, Jennifer Smith, Sarah Steiger, Nicholas Zobrist, Timothy Cook, Supriya Chakrabarti, Christopher Mendillo, Jason Martel, Kuravi Hewawasam

Proceedings Volume 11447, 114479B (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2561770

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Exoplanets, Iterated function systems, Optical imaging, Sensors, Photon counting, Spectrographs, Microwave radiation, Inductance, Spatial resolution

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 2 March 2020 Presentation + Paper

Status and future developments of integrated photonic spectrographs for astronomy and Earth and planetary sciences

N. Jovanovic, N. Cvetojevic, M. Daal, B. Mazin, R. Moreira, D. Mawet, G. Vasisht, C. Beichman, K. Wallace, J. Jewell, S. Leifer, R. Dekany, M. Porter

Proceedings Volume 11287, 112870K (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2546959

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Astronomy, Telescopes, Waveguides, Single mode fibers, Spectral resolution, Sensors, Integrated photonics, Planetary science, Photonic devices

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 24 July 2018 Presentation

Active speckle control with microwave kinetic inductance detectors (Conference Presentation)

Neelay Fruitwala, Seth Meeker, Michael Bottom, Alex Walter, Clinton Bockstiegel, Giulia Collura, Isabel Lipartito, Olivier Guyon, Julien Lozi, Benjamin Mazin

Proceedings Volume 10703, 107031L (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2311402

KEYWORDS: Speckle, Microwave radiation, Inductance, Sensors, Active sensors, Coronagraphy, Adaptive optics, Observatories, Wavefronts, Single photon

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 17 July 2018 Presentation + Paper

Wavefront control architecture and expected performance for the TMT Planetary Systems Imager

Olivier Guyon, Benjamin Mazin, Michael Fitzgerald, Dimitri Mawet, Christian Marois, Andy Skemer, Julien Lozi, Jared Males

Proceedings Volume 10703, 107030Z (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2314331

KEYWORDS: Planets, Stars, Wavefront sensors, Exoplanets, Coronagraphy, Wavefronts, Speckle, Adaptive optics, Imaging systems

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 16 July 2018 Paper

The planetary systems imager: 2-5 micron channel

Andrew Skemer, Deno Stelter, Dimitri Mawet, Michael Fitzgerald, Benjamin Mazin, Olivier Guyon, Christian Marois, Zackery Briesemeister, Timothy Brandt, Jeffrey Chilcote, Jacques-Robert Delorme, Nemanja Jovanovic, Jessica Lu, Maxwell Millar-Blanchaer, James Wallace, Gautam Vasisht, Lewis Roberts, Ji Wang

Proceedings Volume 10702, 10702A5 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2314173

KEYWORDS: Exoplanets, Planets, Imaging systems, Adaptive optics, Imaging spectroscopy, Planetary systems, Spectrographs, Coronagraphy, Infrared imaging

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 13 July 2018 Paper

SCExAO, an instrument with a dual purpose: perform cutting-edge science and develop new technologies

Julien Lozi, Olivier Guyon, Nemanja Jovanovic, Sean Goebel, Prashant Pathak, Nour Skaf, Ananya Sahoo, Barnaby Norris, Frantz Martinache, Mamadou N'Diaye, Ben Mazin, Alex Walter, Peter Tuthill, Tomoyuki Kudo, Hajime Kawahara, Takayuki Kotani, Michael Ireland, Nick Cvetojevic, Elsa Huby, Sylvestre Lacour, Sébastien Vievard, Tyler Groff, Jeffrey Chilcote, Jeremy Kasdin, Justin Knight, Frans Snik, David Doelman, Yosuke Minowa, Christophe Clergeon, Naruhisa Takato, Motohide Tamura, Thayne Currie, Hideki Takami, Masa Hayashi

Proceedings Volume 10703, 1070359 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2314282

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Coronagraphy, Polarization, Near infrared, Speckle, Exoplanets, Wavefronts, Telescopes, Infrared radiation, Polarimetry

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 10 July 2018 Paper

Real-time estimation and correction of quasi-static aberrations in ground-based high contrast imaging systems with high frame-rates

Alexander Rodack, Jared Males, Olivier Guyon, Benjamin Mazin, Michael Fitzgerald, Dimitri Mawet

Proceedings Volume 10703, 107032N (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312218

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Computer simulations, Speckle, Coronagraphy, Exoplanets

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 10 July 2018 Presentation

Microwave kinetic inductance detectors for visible to near infrared astronomy (Conference Presentation)

Gregoire Coiffard, Benjamin Mazin, Miguel Daal, Nicholas Zobrist, Paul Szypryt

Proceedings Volume 10709, 107091M (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313002

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Astronomy, Near infrared, Microwave radiation, Inductance, Infrared sensors, Visible radiation, Superconductors, Photons, Technetium

Read Abstract +

Mazin Lab at UCSB is developing MKID instrument for astronomy at near infrared, optical and ultraviolet wavelength. We use MIKDs as single photon detectors by measuring the arrival time of incoming photons with an accuracy of a few microseconds and with a relatively high energy resolution (R~10 at 1um). We fabricate kilopixels array of MKIDs and we incorporate them in our own instruments for UVOIR astronomy with the main application being exoplanets direct imaging. We present the work being made in our lab in the development and fabrication of 10 to 20k pixels arrays for the DARKNESS (Dark-speckle Near-IR Energy-resolved Superconducting Spectrophotometer) and MEC (MKID Exoplanet Camera) instruments, respectively. The 6-step fabrication process has been upgraded over the last months in order to improve the sensitivity of the arrays. The detectors are made of platinum silicide (PtSi) since MKIDs with very high internal quality factor have been successfully fabricated from this material. Furthermore, PtSi with very uniform superconducting properties over 4inch substrate are much more easier to deposit than the regular TiN used in most existing MKIDs technology. Among various upgrades, we coated the PtSi sensitive area with a SiO2/Ta2O5 bi-layer in order to reduce the reflection of optical photons hitting the detectors. The light absorption is increased by a factor of 2 in the instruments bandwidth. The DARKNESS instrument has been successfully commissioned last summer and MEC, the world largest superconducting camera, is installed at the Subaru telescope since the beginning of the year. Our effort leads to the fabrication of arrays of detectors with a median internal quality factor of 100 000 with an energy resolution of 10 at 1um and a pixel yield approaching 95%. In addition, we will present new MKID design in which the conventional meander inductor and interdigitated capacitor are replaced by a square inductor and a large parallel plate capacitor made of two metal plates separated by a ~10-nm thick dielectric layer. This parallel plate design allows us to drive the MKIDs at a higher power, which in turns should increase the sensitivity of the detectors. Following promising results from our first design, second generation of parallel plate MKID devices have been made from Hf/HfO2/Nb tri-layers deposited in-sit. We obtained high quality factor from the parallel plate MKIDs and we were able to detect photons with this new MKIDs design. Another way to improve the sensitivity of MKIDs is to use a low Tc material, compared to Tc ~ 1K usually used. We fabricated MKIDs arrays with superconducting Hafnium, Tc = 450mK, and we demonstrated that resonators with very high internal quality factors Qi~300 000 and an energy resolution of 9 at 808nm can be achieved.

Proceedings Article | 10 July 2018 Presentation + Paper

MagAO-X: project status and first laboratory results

Jared Males, Laird Close, Kelsey Miller, Lauren Schatz, David Doelman, Jennifer Lumbres, Frans Snik, Alex Rodack, Justin Knight, Kyle Van Gorkom, Joseph Long, Alex Hedglen, Maggie Kautz, Nemanja Jovanovic, Katie Morzinski, Olivier Guyon, Ewan Douglas, Katherine Follette, Julien Lozi, Chris Bohlman, Olivier Durney, Victor Gasho, Phil Hinz, Michael Ireland, Madison Jean, Christoph Keller, Matt Kenworthy, Ben Mazin, Jamison Noenickx, Dan Alfred, Kevin Perez, Anna Sanchez, Corwynn Sauve, Alycia Weinberger, Al Conrad

Proceedings Volume 10703, 1070309 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312992

KEYWORDS: Coronagraphy, Stars, Telescopes, Adaptive optics, Planets, Wavefronts, Computing systems, Observatories

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 9 July 2018 Presentation

MEC: the MKID exoplanet camera for high contrast astronomy at Subaru (Conference Presentation)

Alex Walter, Benjamin Mazin, Clint Bockstiegel, Neelay Fruitwala, Paul Szypryt, Isabel Lipartito, Seth Meeker, Nicholas Zobrist, Giulia Collura, Grégoire Coiffard, Paschal Strader, Olivier Guyon, Julien Lozi, Nemanja Jovanovic

Proceedings Volume 10702, 107020V (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2311586

KEYWORDS: Exoplanets, Stars, Cameras, Planets, Astronomy, Speckle, Coronagraphy, Iterated function systems, Telescopes, Gemini Planet Imager

Read Abstract +

Direct Imaging of exoplanets is one of the most technically difficult techniques used to study exoplanets, but holds immense promise for not just detecting but characterizing planets around the nearest stars. Ambitious instruments at the world’s largest telescopes have been built to carry out this science: the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), SPHERE at VLT, SCExAO at Subaru, and the P1640 and Stellar Double Coronagraph (SDC) at Palomar. These instruments share a common archetype consisting of an extreme AO system feeding a coronagraph for on-axis stellar light rejection followed by a focal plane Integral Field Spectrograph (IFS). They are currently limited by uncontrolled scattered and diffracted light which produces a coherent speckle halo in the image plane. A number of differential imaging schemes exist to mitigate these issues resulting in star-planet contrast ratios as deep as ~10^-6 at low angular separations. Surpassing this contrast limit requires high speed active speckle nullification from a focal plane wavefront sensor (FPWS) and new processing techniques. MEC, the Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detector (MKID) Exoplanet Camera, is a J-band IFS module behind Subaru Telescope’s SCExAO system. MEC is capable of producing an image cube several thousand times a second without the read noise that dominates conventional high speed IFUs. This enables it to integrate with SCExAO as an extremely fast FPWS while eliminating non-common path aberrations by doubling as a science camera. Key science objectives can be further explored if longer wavelengths (H and K band) are simultaneously sent to CHARIS for high resolution spectroscopy. MEC, to be commissioned at Subaru in early 2018, is the second MKID IFS for high contrast imaging following DARKNESS’ debut at Palomar in July 2016. MEC will follow up on young planets and debris disks discovered in the SEEDS survey or by Project 1640 as well as discover self-luminous massive planets. The increased sensitivity, combined with the advanced coronagraphs in SCExAO which have inner working angles (IWAs) as small as 0.03” at 1.2 μm, allows young Jupiter-sized objects to be imaged as close as 4 AU from their host star. If the wavefront control enabled by MEC is fully realized, it may begin to probe the reflected light of giant planets around some nearby stars, opening a new parameter space for direct imaging targeting older stars. While direct imaging of reflected light exoplanets is the most challenging of the scientific goals, it is a promising long-term path towards characterization of habitable planets around nearby stars using Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs). With diameters of about 30-m, an ELT can resolve the habitable zones of nearby M-type stars, for which an Earth-sized planet would be at ~10^-7 contrast at 1 μm. This will complement future space-based high contrast optical imaging targeting the wider habitable zones of sun-like stars for ~10^-10 contrast earth analogs. We will present lessons learned from the first few months of MEC’s operation including initial lab and on-sky (weather permitting) results. We already have preliminary data from Palomar testing a new statistical speckle discrimination post-processing technique using the photon arrival time measured with MKIDs. Residual stellar light in the form of a speckle masquerading as a planetary companion is pulled from a modified Rician distribution and can be statistically discerned from a true off-axis Poisson point source. Additionally, the progress of active focal plane wavefront control will be briefly discussed.

Proceedings Article | 6 July 2018 Presentation + Paper

Innovations and advances in instrumentation at the W. M. Keck Observatory

Marc Kassis, Dwight Chan, Shui Kwok, Tomas Krasuski, James Lyke, Sam Ragland, Scott Lilley, Sylvain Cetre, Peter Wizinowich, Hilton Lewis, Percy Gomez, Luca Rizzi, James Larkin, Tuan Do, Michael Fitzgerald, Andy Skemer, J. Xavier Prochaska, Kyle Westfall, Ben Mazin, Dimitri Mawet, Keith Matthews, Christopher Martin, Andrew Howard, Jessica Lu, Mark Chun

Proceedings Volume 10702, 1070207 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312316

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Telescopes, Spectrographs, Sensors, Spectroscopy, Optical fibers, Observatories, Imaging systems, Control systems, Mirrors

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 6 July 2018 Presentation + Paper

KRAKENS: a superconducting MKID integral field spectrograph concept for the Keck I telescope

Benjamin Mazin, George Becker, Gustavo Cancelo, Kevin France, Wesley Fraser, Tucker Jones, Seth Meeker, Kieran O'Brien, J. Xavier Prochaska, Shriharsh Tendulkar, Gautam Vasisht

Proceedings Volume 10702, 107020H (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312221

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Pulsars, Spectral resolution, Photons, Sensors, Galactic astronomy, Superconductors, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 19 September 2017 Presentation

Subaru coronagraphic extreme adaptive optics (SCExAO): wavefront control optimized for high-contrast imaging (Conference Presentation)

Olivier Guyon, Nemanja Jovanovic, Julien Lozi, Jared Males, Frantz Martinache, Ben Mazin, Barnaby Norris, Prashant Pathak

Proceedings Volume 10400, 1040017 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2274609

KEYWORDS: Wavefronts, Imaging systems, Control systems, Adaptive optics, Exoplanets, Coronagraphy, Telescopes, Visible radiation, Infrared sensors, Infrared imaging

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 5 August 2016 Paper

A microwave kinetic inductance detector for the DAG telescope

Tolga Güver, Benjamin Mazin, Kieran O'Brien, Burak Kay, Sinan Aliş, F. Korhan Yelkenci, Cahit Yeşilyaprak, Sinan Yerli, Ayşe Erol, Onur Keskin

Proceedings Volume 9915, 99152P (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234281

KEYWORDS: Microwave radiation, Inductance, Sensors, Telescopes, Observatories, Microwave radiation, Inductance, Sensors, Photons, Tin, Superconductors, Astronomy, Gamma radiation

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 27 July 2016 Paper

The path to visible extreme adaptive optics with MagAO-2K and MagAO-X

Jared Males, Laird Close, Olivier Guyon, Katie Morzinski, Philip Hinz, Simone Esposito, Enrico Pinna, Marco Xompero, Runa Briguglio, Armando Riccardi, Alfio Puglisi, Ben Mazin, Michael Ireland, Alycia Weinberger, Al Conrad, Matthew Kenworthy, Frans Snik, Gilles Otten, Nemanja Jovanovic, Julien Lozi

Proceedings Volume 9909, 990952 (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234105

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Imaging systems, Sensors, Adaptive optics, Coronagraphy, Stars, Atmospheric modeling, Point spread functions, Liquid crystal on silicon, Telescopes, Error analysis

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 26 July 2016 Paper

The SCExAO high contrast imager: transitioning from commissioning to science

N. Jovanovic, O. Guyon, J. Lozi, T. Currie, J. Hagelberg, B. Norris, G. Singh, P. Pathak, D. Doughty, S. Goebel, J. Males, J. Kuhn, E. Serabyn, P. Tuthill, G. Schworer, F. Martinache, T. Kudo, H. Kawahara, T. Kotani, M. Ireland, T. Feger, A. Rains, J. Bento, C. Schwab, D. Coutts, N. Cvetojevic, S. Gross, A. Arriola, T. Lagadec, J. Kasdin, T. Groff, B. Mazin, Y. Minowa, N. Takato, M. Tamura, H. Takami, M. Hayashi

Proceedings Volume 9909, 99090W (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2234294

KEYWORDS: Adaptive optics, Imaging systems, Stars, Telescopes, Calibration, Visible radiation, Spectrographs, Speckle, Cameras, Prisms

Read Abstract +

SPIE Journal Paper | 11 September 2015 Open Access

Planetary Imaging Concept Testbed Using a Recoverable Experiment–Coronagraph (PICTURE C)

Timothy Cook, Kerri Cahoy, Supriya Chakrabarti, Ewan Douglas, Susanna Finn, Marc Kuchner, Nikole Lewis, Anne Marinan, Jason Martel, Dimitri Mawet, Benjamin Mazin, Seth Meeker, Christopher Mendillo, Gene Serabyn, David Stuchlik, Mark Swain

JATIS, Vol. 1, Issue 04, 044001, (September 2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.10.1117/1.JATIS.1.4.044001

KEYWORDS: Coronagraphy, Planets, Imaging systems, Telescopes, Stars, Exoplanets, Mirrors, Sensors, Wavefronts, Infrared imaging

Read Abstract +

DOWNLOAD PAPER

Proceedings Article | 19 August 2014 Paper

The status of MUSIC: the multiwavelength sub-millimeter inductance camera

Jack Sayers, Clint Bockstiegel, Spencer Brugger, Nicole Czakon, Peter Day, Thomas Downes, Ran Duan, Jiansong Gao, Amandeep Gill, Jason Glenn, Sunil Golwala, Matthew Hollister, Albert Lam, Henry LeDuc, Philip Maloney, Benjamin Mazin, Sean McHugh, David Miller, Anthony Mroczkowski, Omid Noroozian, Hien Trong Nguyen, James Schlaerth, Seth Siegel, Anastasios Vayonakis, Philip Wilson, Jonas Zmuidzinas

Proceedings Volume 9153, 915304 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2055444

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Calibration, Antennas, Point spread functions, Cameras, Galactic astronomy, Electronics, Mirrors, Absorption, Resonators

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 7 August 2014 Paper

Adaptive optics at the Subaru telescope: current capabilities and development

Olivier Guyon, Yutaka Hayano, Motohide Tamura, Tomoyuki Kudo, Shin Oya, Yosuke Minowa, Olivier Lai, Nemanja Jovanovic, Naruhisa Takato, Jeremy Kasdin, Tyler Groff, Masahiko Hayashi, Nobuo Arimoto, Hideki Takami, Colin Bradley, Hajime Sugai, Guy Perrin, Peter Tuthill, Ben Mazin

Proceedings Volume 9148, 91481R (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057273

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Adaptive optics, Cameras, Exoplanets, Spectrographs, Imaging spectroscopy, Imaging systems, Visible radiation, Coronagraphy, Wavefront sensors

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 8 July 2014 Paper

KIDSpec: an MKID based medium resolution integral field spectrograph

Kieran O'Brien, Niranjan Thatte, Benjamin Mazin

Proceedings Volume 9147, 91470G (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2056297

KEYWORDS: Spectrographs, Spectral resolution, Sensors, Astronomy, Inductance, Quantum efficiency, Spectroscopes, Multiplexing, Binary data, Exoplanets

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 5 October 2012 Paper

SuperMOS: a new class of low resolution multiobject spectrographs

Benjamin Mazin, Danica Marsden, Kieran O'Brien

Proceedings Volume 8446, 84460O (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926398

KEYWORDS: Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, Galactic astronomy, Sensors, Photons, Telescopes, Astronomical imaging, Spectrographs, Device simulation, Microwave radiation, Spectroscopy

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 27 September 2012 Paper

Status of MUSIC, the MUltiwavelength Sub/millimeter Inductance Camera

Sunil Golwala, Clint Bockstiegel, Spencer Brugger, Nicole Czakon, Peter Day, Thomas Downes, Ran Duan, Jiansong Gao, Amandeep Gill, Jason Glenn, Matthew Hollister, Henry LeDuc, Philip Maloney, Benjamin Mazin, Sean McHugh, David Miller, Omid Noroozian, Hien Nguyen, Jack Sayers, James Schlaerth, Seth Siegel, Anastasios Vayonakis, Philip Wilson, Jonas Zmuidzinas

Proceedings Volume 8452, 845205 (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926055

KEYWORDS: Resonators, Antennas, Sensors, Aluminum, Mirrors, Electronics, Optical filters, Telescopes, Quasiparticles, Dielectric filters

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 25 September 2012 Paper

Optical lumped element microwave kinetic inductance detectors

Danica Marsden, Benjamin Mazin, Bruce Bumble, Seth Meeker, Kieran O'Brien, Sean McHugh, Matthew Strader, Eric Langman

Proceedings Volume 8453, 84530B (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924904

KEYWORDS: Resonators, Sensors, Tin, Microwave radiation, Inductance, Superconductors, Time correlated photon counting, Multiplexing, Chemical elements, Optical components

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 24 September 2012 Paper

ARCONS: a 1024 pixel superconducting integral field spectrograph

Kieran O'Brien, Ben Mazin, Sean McHugh, Seth Meeker, Danica Marsden, Bruce Bumble

Proceedings Volume 8446, 84460F (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.924920

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Superconductors, Inductance, Spectrographs, Quasiparticles, Resonators, Telescopes, Microwave radiation, Spectroscopy, Cameras

Read Abstract +