Instrumentation

I build and use instruments to characterize the atmospheres of exoplanets using transit spectroscopy. I'm currently working on a new type of spectrograph:

I am the lead scientist and optical engineer for the Exoplanet Transmission Spectroscopy Imager (ETSI). It is unlike any other spectrographs in that it uses a thin-film optical coated multiband filter with 15 bandpasses simultaneously imaged on two detectors and novel data processing techniques.

• The Exoplanet Transmission Spectroscopy Imager (ETSI)

• The Exoplanet Transmission Spectroscopy Imager (ETSI), A New Instrument for Rapid Characterization of Exoplanet Atmospheres

• In prep: the theory behind how the ETSI instrument will make precision spectrophotometric measurements & characterization of the atmosphere of a hot-saturn (retrieval in image above)

Prior to my current exoplanet/exomoon PhD research, I spent the first decade of my career as an optical engineer. I have led the optical design of nearly half a dozen astronomical instruments, including major instruments on 8-10 meter class telescopes. I primarily design and build specialized exoplanet instrumentation. Recently, I have worked on several of the integral field spectrographs (IFSs) for exoplanet high-contrast imaging and spectroscopy:

I am currently part of the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) Consortium. I am the optical designer for the upgrades of the IFS:

•  GPI 2.0: Characterizing Self-Luminous Exoplanets Through Low-Resolution Infrared Spectroscopy

• GPI 2.0: performance of upgrades to the Gemini Planet Imager CAL and IFS

• GPI 2.0: upgrade status of the Gemini Planet Imager

• GPI 2.0: Upgrades to the IFS including new spectral modes

• GPI 2.0: Overview

I was lead optical engineer and part of the science team for the Subaru/SCExAO/CHARIS IFS:

• Conceptual design of CHARIS

• Optical design of CHARIS

• Scientific design of CHARIS

• Laboratory testing and performance verification

I also helped design a high contrast IFS (HCIFS) testbed for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope:

• First light of HCIFS

• Rapid-prototyping a tabletop IFS

Photo Credit: Robert de Rosa and Christian Marois