Heriot-Watt photonic chip opens new possibilities for astronomical research

A tiny photonic chip developed at Heriot-Watt University has successfully linked two telescopes together, marking an important step towards a new generation of astronomical technology.

The breakthrough forms part of an international research collaboration involving Heriot-Watt University, universities in Germany and the CHARA Array at Georgia State University in the United States.

Developed by Professor Robert Thomson and Dr Aurélien Benoît at Heriot-Watt University’s Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences, the glass chip uses microscopic channels to combine light collected by separate telescopes, allowing them to operate as a single, more powerful instrument.

The technology has been successfully demonstrated at the CHARA Array in California, one of the world’s leading facilities for high-resolution astronomy. The chip sits at the heart of an instrument called CHARIOT, designed to test new photonic technologies.

During observing campaigns in 2024 and 2025, CHARIOT successfully combined light from telescopes and recorded signals from a range of stars, including stars fainter than those detected by the previous system.

Traditionally, combining light from multiple telescopes requires large and complex optical systems. The new technology demonstrates how these functions can instead be integrated into a compact glass chip, potentially making future astronomical instruments smaller, more robust and easier to upgrade.

The research, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, could support future advances in astronomical observation, including more detailed studies of distant stars and planetary systems.

The achievement highlights the contribution of Scottish photonics research to international scientific collaboration and demonstrates the potential of advanced light-based technologies in space and astronomy, an important application area for Scotland’s Critical Technologies Supercluster.

Read the original Heriot-Watt University announcement: https://www.hw.ac.uk/news/2026/tiny-photonic-chip-links-telescopes-together-to-view-the-universe-in-astonishing-details