Photonic E-MARCOT at Calar Alto: architecture and integration of the MARCOT pathfinder spectroscopic mode for on-sky validation of MM–MM photonic lanterns at CAHA

Résumé fourni par la source

MARCOT Pathfinder is a demonstrator based on seven Optical Telescope Assemblies (OTAs) installed at Calar Alto Observatory (CAHA) to validate key technologies required for a scalable multi-telescope architecture within the Photonic EMARCOT roadmap. The platform retains its imaging capability while a dedicated fibre-fed spectroscopic mode is implemented to verify the optical chain required for multimode photonic combination under realistic observing conditions. The spectroscopic mode comprises Post-Focus Units (PFUs) for beam conditioning and fibre injection, a fibre interconnection chain, a Spectrograph Focal Adapter (SFA), and an upgraded OTA support control system for stable pointing and tracking during fibre injection. The system supports two configurations with the MUSE spectrograph: a direct mode in which the seven OTA fibres are delivered individually to the spectrograph interface, and a photonic mode in which the seven channels are combined through a multimode-to-multimode photonic lantern (MM-MM PL) and injected as a single output. MM-MM PLs are being characterized at the IAA-CSIC/CAHA Astrophotonics Laboratory before onsky deployment, providing a laboratory validation step consistent with Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4. The planned on-sky campaign will support the transition towards a TRL 6 demonstration in a relevant environment. This paper describes the spectroscopic mode architecture, its integration logic, and the planned validation approach, with the MUSE spectrograph as the primary case for end-to-end validation and other CAHA spectrographs as complementary tests.

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