Lecture
Kaiser Spring Lectures: How photonics and sub-wavelength optics are shaping next-generation telescopes
- Dhwanil Patel
- Date
- Saturday 5 April 2025
- Time
- Address
-
Old Observatory
Sterrenwachtlaan 11
2311 GW Leiden
NB: This lecture will be given in English.
The upcoming era of extremely large optical telescopes will require advanced instruments to fully use their capabilities. These technological advancements are needed to not only enhance the telescopes but also to tackle big challenges in astronomy, like searching for life on Earth-like planets and dealing with Earth’s atmosphere. In this talk, from the perspective of a student, I will present these challenges and discuss how modern optics, such as subwavelength optics and photonics, are used to bridge these gaps. We will then explore some of the on-sky and planned instruments based on these principles and conclude the talk with a brief discussion of some of my work.
About the Kaiser Spring Lectures
The Kaiser Spring Lectures is an initiative from Leiden University and the Astronomical Society ‘F. Kaiser’. This is a society for all astronomy students in Leiden, from first years to PhDs. L.A.D. ‘F. Kaiser’ is named after Frederik Kaiser, the first director and co-founder of the Old Observatory. The society organises many activities for students, from drinks and football tournaments to lectures and museum trips, which are all completely managed by students.