PhD in Astronomical Instrumentation: focal plane based extreme adaptive optics

The adaptive optics revolution

Adaptive Optics (AO) has changed the face of observational astronomy, making ground based telescope able to live up to their angular resolution potential, and allowing us to dream up the upcoming generation of large 30m-class giant segmented mirror telescopes (GSMTs). Yet despite its incredible achievements, AO still hasn't fully succeded in bringing the quality of astronomical images to its full potential, required for modern observing techniques such as high-contrast imaging and/or coupling into single mode fibers, enabling the use of photonic technology.

Objectives of the PhD project

The next major breakthrough will come from using information of great value, available in the focal plane, to directly to drive AO systems. Such an approach is finally possible today, thanks to the availability of high-cadence, low readout noise near-infrared detectors and that of enhanced real time computing capabilities. Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur (OCA) and the Subaru Telescope are teaming up to offer a PhD project that will turn this ambitious goal into a reality. This PhD is funded by the KERNEL project. It will be co-supervised by the KERNEL project PI F. Martinache (OCA) and the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme AO (SCExAO) project lead O. Guyon (Subaru Telescope).

The successful applicant will benefit from state of the art hardware and expertise along with access to two complementary experimental setups, both taking advantage of the same software environment:

• the KERNEL test-bench, located in Nice (France), with a unique multi-wavelength capability, and a segmented deformable provides the means to prototype applications for GSMTs and long baseline interferometry developments.
• the SCExAO instrument itself, installed at the Nasmyth focus of the Subaru Telescope, located atop Mauna Kea (Hawaii USA), provides the means to validate strategies using unique on-sky validation capability and have a rapid impact on the community.

Application process

The PhD is scheduled to start in the Fall 2018. To apply, the candidate is required to send (email frantz.martinache@oca.eu) a copy of his vita, and a letter detailing his/her interest in the project along with a transcript of his/her master degree in physics, astronomy or a relevant engineering specialty. The candidate should be willing to work as part of a team, to collaborate with an international network of people involved with a wide variety of activities: data processing, astrophysical modeling, observing at the telescope, experimentation in optics and real-time computing.