Millar-Blanchaer
Research Group
University of California, Santa Barbara
INSTRUMENTATION ~/instrumentation
With a BSc in Electrical Engineering and a BSc in Physics, I have always found astronomical instrumentation to be a perfect match to my interests and training. In general my current instrumentation focus is on the development and implementation of new polarimetric modes for the characterization of exoplanets and debris disks, but I'm also interested in non-polarimetric instrumentation and techniques for direct imaging of exoplanets and debris disks. In the pages below, I give some more examples of my current and past instrumentation projects.
In addition to the projects below I am also currently working on implementing a new polarimetry mode for the Keck NIRC2 infrared imager, characterizing the Subaru/SCExAO/VAMPIRES polarimetry mode (see this paper by my student Rebecca Zhang) and planning for direct imaging instrumentation for thirty-meter class telescopes (see this paper by my student Connor Vancil on PSISIM). Most recently I've joined the Roman Coronagraph Instrument project and am co-leading the Data Reduction and Simulations working group.
The Gemini Planet Imager
An extreme-AO coronagraphic integral field spectrograph/polarimeter at Gemini South. I've worked on its polarimetry mode since 2011.
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Metasurface Optics HOT
Subwavelength nanostructures that shape phase, amplitude and polarization: focal- and pupil-plane coronagraphs.
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WIRC+Pol
R~100 spectropolarimetry in J and H at the Palomar 200-inch, built around a polarization grating.
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Polarization Gratings
Diffraction gratings that are also polarizing beam splitters, with >90% efficiency from 500 to 850 nm.
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Previous Projects
TMT NFIRAOS calibration unit, the WIFIS image slicer, Keck NIRES detectors, and a trip to the high Arctic.
Tell me more!Other Projects
Keck NIRC2 polarimetry, SCExAO/VAMPIRES, the Roman Coronagraph pipeline...
UNDER CONSTRUCTION