Explanipedia

The Lunar Trailblazer Lunar Thermal Mapper Instrument Open

Neil E. Bowles, B. L. Ehlmann, Rory Evans, T. Warren, Henry Eshbaugh , et al. · 2025

Ultra-high precision NiP mirror fabrication using ion beam figuring for space applications Open

P. C. Pradhan, Riley Shurvinton, Cyril Bourgenot, Hongchang Wang, Kawal Sawhney · 2025

Nickel phosphorous (NiP) is a broadly used optical material for wide-field visible to mid-infrared instrumentation in space applications. The process chain usually involves applying an electroless metal deposition onto a mirror substrate, …

Overview of Space-Based Laser Communication Missions and Payloads: Insights from the Autonomous Laser Inter-Satellite Gigabit Network (ALIGN) Open

Othman Isam Younus, Amna Riaz, Richard Binns, E. Scullion, R. T. Wicks , et al. · 2024

This paper examines the growing adoption of laser communication (lasercom) in space missions and payloads for identifying emerging trends and key technology drivers of future optical communications satellite systems. It also presents a com…

Design, manufacture and metrology of additively manufactured, metal and ceramic lightweight circular mirror prototypes Open

Greg Lister, Rhys Tuck, Younes Chahid, K. C. Morris, Richard Kotlewski , et al. · 2024

Spaced-based mirrors are a developing use-case for Additive Manufacturing (AM), the process that builds a part layer-by-layer. The increased geometric freedom results in novel and advantageous designs previously unachievable. Conventionall…

SCALES status report Open

R. Deno Stelter, Andrew Skemer, Steph Sallum, Nicholas MacDonald, Renate Kupke , et al. · 2024

editorial reviewed

Targeting low micro-roughness for 3D printed aluminium mirrors using a hot isostatic press Open

Carolyn Atkins, Younes Chahid, Gregory Lister, R.A. Tuck, Richard Kotlewski , et al. · 2024

Additive manufacturing (AM; 3D printing) in aluminium using laser powder bed fusion provides a new design space for lightweight mirror production. Printing layer-by-layer enables the use of intricate lattices for mass reduction, as well as…

Steering Mirror System with Closed-Loop Feedback for Free-Space Optical Communication Terminals Open

Christopher Graham, David G. Bramall, Othman Isam Younus, Amna Riaz, Richard Binns , et al. · 2024

Precision beam pointing plays a critical role in free-space optical communications terminals in uplink, downlink and inter-satellite link scenarios. Among the various methods of beam steering, the use of fast steering mirrors (FSM) is wide…

Topology Optimization of a Single-Point Diamond-Turning Fixture for a Deployable Primary Mirror Telescope Open

Cyril Bourgenot, Valdis Krumins, David G. Bramall, Abdul M. Haque · 2024

CubeSats, known for their compact size and cost effectiveness, have gained significant popularity. However, their limited size imposes restrictions on the optical aperture and, consequently, the Ground Resolution Distance in Earth Observat…

Topology Optimization Of A Single Point Diamond Turning Fixture For A Deployable Primary Mirror Telescope Open

Cyril Bourgenot, Valdis Krumins, David G. Bramall, Abdul M. Haque · 2023

CubeSats, known for their compact size and cost-effectiveness, have gained significant popularity. However, their limited size imposes restrictions on optical aperture and, consequently, Ground Resolution Distance in Earth Observation miss…

Integrated fiber optic spectrally resolved downwelling irradiance sensor for pushbroom spectrometers Open

Christopher Graham, John M. Girkin, Cyril Bourgenot · 2022

We present an integrated fiber optic spectrally resolved downwelling irradiance sensor for pushbroom hyperspectral imagers. The system comprises of a cosine corrector and custom fiber patch cables, collecting the ambient light in a large s…

Lightweight, aluminum, mirror design optimization for conventional and additive manufacturing processes Open

Jitsupa Paenoi, Cyril Bourgenot, Carolyn Atkins, Robert M. Snell, Iain Todd , et al. · 2022

Lightweight, aluminum, freeform prototype mirrors have been designed and fabricated by a Thai led team, with UK support, for intended applications within the Thai Space Consortium (TSC) satellite series. The project motivation was to explo…

Spectral index selection method for remote moisture sensing under challenging illumination conditions Open

Christopher Graham, John M. Girkin, Cyril Bourgenot · 2022

Design of SCALES: a 2-5 micron coronagraphic integral field spectrograph for Keck Observatory Open

Andrew Skemer, R. Deno Stelter, Steph Sallum, Nicholas MacDonald, Renate Kupke , et al. · 2022

editorial reviewed

The HR image slicer for GNIRS at Gemini North: optical design and performance Open

Ariadna Calcines Rosario, Marc Dubbeldam, R. M. Sharples, Cyril Bourgenot, Rubén Díaz , et al. · 2022

GNIRS (Gemini Near-InfraRed Spectrograph) is a multi-function spectrograph at Gemini North telescope offering four observational modes in the spectral range of 0.8 to 5.4 µm. It provides 2-pixel spectral resolutions from 1,200 up to 18,000…

Design of SCALES: A 2-5 Micron Coronagraphic Integral Field Spectrograph for Keck Observatory Open

Andrew Skemer, R. Deno Stelter, Stephanie Sallum, Nicholas R. MacDonald, Renate Kupke , et al. · 2022

We present the design of SCALES (Slicer Combined with Array of Lenslets for Exoplanet Spectroscopy) a new 2-5 micron coronagraphic integral field spectrograph under construction for Keck Observatory. SCALES enables low-resolution (R~50) sp…

Weighing Exo-Atmospheres: A novel mid-resolution spectral mode for SCALES Open

R. Deno Stelter, Andrew Skemer, Renate Kupke, Cyril Bourgenot, Raquel A. Martinez , et al. · 2022

SCALES (Slicer Combined with an Array of Lenslets for Exoplanet Spectroscopy) is a 2 to 5 micron high-contrast lenslet-based Integral Field Spectrograph (IFS) designed to characterize exoplanets and their atmospheres. Like other lenslet-ba…

The LR-IFU for GNIRS at Gemini North : optical component manufacturing and metrology Open

Cyril Bourgenot, Ariadna Z. Calcines-Rosario, Marc Dubbeldam, R. M. Sharples, Rubén Díaz , et al. · 2022

Weighing exo-atmospheres: a novel mid-resolution spectral mode for SCALES Open

R. Deno Stelter, Andrew Skemer, Renate Kupke, Cyril Bourgenot, Raquel A. Martinez , et al. · 2022

SCALES (Slicer Combined with an Array of Lenslets for Exoplanet Spectroscopy) is a 2 - 5 micron high-contrast lenslet-based integral field spectrograph (IFS) designed to characterize exoplanets and their atmospheres. Like other lenslet-bas…

Optical Imaging Resources for Crop Phenotyping and Stress Detection Open

Phatchareeya Waiphara, Cyril Bourgenot, Lindsey J. Compton, Ankush Prashar · 2022

With a rapidly increasing population, diminishing resource availability, and variation in environment, there is a need to change agricultural production to deliver long-term food security. To deliver such change, we need crops that are pro…

Freeform based hYperspectral imager for MOisture Sensing (FYMOS) Open

Christopher Graham, John M. Girkin, Cyril Bourgenot · 2021

We present FYMOS, an all-aluminum, robust, light weight, freeform based, near infrared hYperspectral imager for MOisture Sensing. FYMOS was designed and built to remotely measure moisture content using spectral features from 0.7-1.7µm inte…

Full-Field Terahertz Imaging at Kilohertz Frame Rates Using Atomic Vapor Open

Lucy A. Downes, Andrew R. MacKellar, Daniel J. Whiting, Cyril Bourgenot, Charles S. Adams , et al. · 2020

There is much interest in employing terahertz (THz) radiation across a range of imaging applications, but \nso far, technologies have struggled to achieve the necessary frame rates. Here, we demonstrate a THz \nimaging system based upon ef…

Lightweighting design optimisation for additively manufactured mirrors Open

Carolyn Atkins, William Brzozowski, Naomi Dobson, Maria Milanova, Stephen Todd , et al. · 2019

Design for additive manufacture (AM; 3D printing) is significantly different than design for subtractive machining. Although there are some limitations on the designs that can be printed, the increase in the AM design-space removes some of…

Additively manufactured mirrors for CubeSats Open

Carolyn Atkins, William Brzozowski, Naomi Dobson, Maria Milanova, Stephen Todd , et al. · 2019

Additive manufacturing (AM; 3D printing) is a fabrication process that builds an object layer-upon-layer and promotes the use of structures that would not be possible via subtractive machining. Prototype AM metal mirrors are increasingly b…

Ultra-high speed Terahertz imaging using atomic vapour [dataset] Open

Lucy A. Downes, Kevin J. Weatherill, Daniel J. Whiting, Cyril Bourgenot, Andrew R. MacKellar , et al. · 2019

Terahertz (THz) technologies, generally defined as operating in the 0.1-10THz range, bridge the gap between electronic and photonic devices. Because THz radiation passes readily through materials such as plastics, paper and cloth it can be…

New opportunities of freeform gratings using diamond machining Open

Cyril Bourgenot, R. M. Sharples, Ariadna Calcines · 2018

With the recent development of new ultra fine aluminium alloys and progress in the field of directly machined freeform surfaces, diamond machined freeform gratings could play an important part in future spectrographs or integral field unit…

Design of freeform diffraction gratings: performance, limitations and potential applications Open

Ariadna Calcines, Cyril Bourgenot, R. M. Sharples · 2018

Spectroscopy is a key technique in astronomy and nowadays most major telescopes include at least one spectrograph in their instrument suite. The dispersive element is one of the most important components and it defines the pupil size, spec…

Development of Focusing Plasma Mirrors for Ultraintense Laser-Driven Particle and Radiation Sources Open

R. Wilson, M. King, R. J. Gray, D. C. Carroll, R. J. Dance , et al. · 2018

Increasing the peak intensity to which high power laser pulses are focused can open up new regimes of laser-plasma interactions, resulting in the acceleration of ions to higher energies and more efficient generation of energetic photons. L…

Design, manufacture, and evaluation of prototype telescope windows for use in low-vision aids Open

Johannes Courtial, Cyril Bourgenot, E. Cowie, John M. Girkin, Gordon D. Love , et al. · 2017

Pixellated Optics, a class of optical devices which preserve phase front continuity only over small sub areas of the device, allow for a range of uses that would not otherwise be possible. One potential use is as Low Vision Aids (LVAs), wh…

Diamond machining of a single shot ellipsoidal focusing plasma mirror Open

Cyril Bourgenot, D N Crosby, David J. Robertson · 2016

Plasma mirrors have become an important tool in high power laser physics due to their ability to suppress laser pre-pulses and amplified spontaneous emission allowing a cleaner and sharper rising edge pulse to be focused onto a target. A P…

Resolution limits of pixellated optical components Open

E. Cowie, Cyril Bourgenot, David J. Robertson, Johannes Courtial · 2016

Pixellated optical components, for example generalised confocal lenslet arrays (GCLAs), enable the design of optical devices which cannot be realised without introducing pixellation or a similar compromise. A key concern is the degradation…

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