Broader Impact

This proof of concept instrument has the potential to revolutionize astronomical instrumentation and open up a window on the early Universe that has so far been beyond our reach: the study of the first galaxies! The spectroscopic imaging of faint passive near-IR light sources will also have applications outside of astronomy, including remote sensing of the Earth's atmospheric chemistry to improve understanding of the Earth's climate, medical imaging, and other analytical chemical applications. With the development of this instrument, we will establish the first astrophotonics lab in the U.S. Like our Australian colleagues, we envisage the development of strong links with communities in medical physics, biophotonics, material science, quantum science, and nanotechnology.