{
  "abstract": "Photonic lanterns provide an interface between multimode optical fields and arrays of single-mode waveguides, making them promising components for modal filtering, wavefront sensing, and high-contrast astronomical instrumentation. We present the design, simulation, two-photon-polymerization fabrication, and free-space characterization of a compact photonic lantern optimized for operation at $ 1050~\\mathrm{nm} $. The device was designed to transform a multimode input into five nominally single-mode output waveguides. Eigenmode-expansion simulations in Ansys Lumerical MODE were used to optimize the lantern geometry while minimizing insertion loss and output-channel power nonuniformity. The optimized structure was fabricated using a Nanoscribe Photonic Professional GT2 two-photon-polymerization system and developed as a standalone polymer-waveguide component. The fabricated lantern was characterized using a free-space optical setup consisting of a $ 635~\\mathrm{nm} $ laser for preliminary characterization, collimation and focusing optics, and camera-based imaging of the transmitted fields. Measurements were used to assess optical throughput, output intensity distribution, and light-guiding performance. Differences between simulated and measured results may arise from the wavelength mismatch, fabrication tolerances, material and surface-scattering losses, alignment errors, and deviations from the idealized material and geometric parameters used in simulation. These results demonstrate a compact, additively manufactured photonic-lantern platform and establish a pathway toward free-space-coupled astrophotonic systems for future high-contrast exoplanet-imaging instrumentation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2610.03484",
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Kyra Watts"
    },
    {
      "name": "Natasha Popenoe"
    },
    {
      "name": "Benjamin Gerard"
    },
    {
      "name": "Paul Pax"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dominic Sanchez"
    },
    {
      "name": "David Feng"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Cole Dunn"
    },
    {
      "name": "Cari Johnston"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xiaoxing Xia"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dkbq69t9dynk4.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2610.03484",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "dkbq69t9dynk4",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.03484",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "LicenseRef-arXiv-nonexclusive-1.0",
  "licence_label": "arXiv licence",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "astro-ph.IM"
    ],
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.optics"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2208|Photonic and Optical Devices"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220384215",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2610.03484",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-02",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dkbq69t9dynk4.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:26:45Z",
      "native_id": "2610.03484",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.03484"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "arxiv:astro-ph.IM",
      "subfield": "instrumentation-methods"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.optics",
      "subfield": "optics-photonics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Design, Fabrication, and Free-Space Characterization of a Two-Photon-Polymerized Nano-printed Photonic Lantern",
  "title_text": "Design, Fabrication, and Free-Space Characterization of a Two-Photon-Polymerized Nano-printed Photonic Lantern",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:26:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dkbq69t9dynk4",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}