Astrophysics Seminar: Prof. Jonathan Crass, The Ohio State University

Over the past decade, the iLocater program has moved from an initial concept through to approaching delivery to the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in 2026. The instrument is a new type of extreme precision radial velocity (EPRV) spectrograph which uses adaptive optics (AO) to efficiently inject diffraction-limited starlight into single-mode fibers (SMFs) at near-infrared wavelengths. iLocater is optimized for studies of exoplanets, particularly precision studies of late-type stars, and with its diffraction-limited input and high-resolution, it can probe a new parameter space for exoplanet science.

I will present an overview of iLocater, give an update on its status and laboratory testing at Ohio State, and present plans for delivery, initial science programs, and future upgrades.