The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) received a $881,843 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program to upgrade the MKID Exoplanet Camera for the Subaru Telescope's Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) system. The project aims to boost the instrument's spectral resolution and array fill factor by incorporating the latest microwave kinetic inductance detector (MKID) technology. This upgrade will enable higher contrast imaging at smaller inner working angles, supporting the search for signs of life on exoplanets. The project involves extensive student participation and will be documented on a public YouTube channel, "Experimental Astrophysics," to share the instrument development process with the broader public. The award period runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027.
Generated 3/4/25, 6:57 AM