Output details

A complex multi-notch astronomical filter to suppress the bright infrared sky

This multi-institution multi-disciplinary paper describes an "astro-photonic" solution to an important problem in ground-based observational astronomy - one of the two major reasons why space telescopes have (at great expense) been built, launched and operated. A key component in the solution is the photonic lantern. Birks' contribution was to devise the original photonic lantern concept, propose its use for astronomy, and provide the theoretical / conceptual understanding of lantern design needed to achieve low optical losses in an application where every photon counts.