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Dr. Nicholas Devaney B.Sc, PhD
Contact Details
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Biography:
My background is in Astronomical Imaging with high spatial resolution, mostly involving Adaptive Optics and Image Processing. My current work in this area concerns the detection of extrasolar planets in data obtained using adaptive optics. I am also interested in the application of adaptive optics and other techniques to the enhancement of microscopy. In addition, I am supervising projects on Image processing of medical images; specifically on the study of retinal disease using adaptive-optics retinal images and the optimal detection of lesions in mammography. |
Research Interests
Exoplanet DetectionA large number of planets have been detected outside our solar system using indirect techniques (e.g. see here). Imaging of these exoplanets is extremely challenging given how close they are to their parent stars, and how much fainter. The brightness ratio with the parent star is of the order 10^-6 to 10^-9. Obtaining such images will require using large (or extremely large) telescopes, with practically perfect adaptive optics. Even so, residual speckle effects severely hamper our ability to unambiguously detect exoplanets. We have developed optimal techniques based on using knowledge of the data statistics. We have also developed a powerful inverse-problem approach applicable to multi-wavelength data. This exploits the fact that the position of residual speckles scales with wavelength, and this fact may be used to discriminate speckles from planets. We want to extend these approaches to future Extremely Large Telescopes. High-resolution retinal image processingAdaptive optics is now used to provide images of the retina with unprecedented detail. Image processing can further enhance these images by selecting those images with the highest contrast, and precisely registering the images. We use a multi-resolution approach based on wavelets to carry out these tasks. We are also using wavelets to automatically detect photoreceptors (cones and rods) in the retinal images. Enhancing microscopy using Adaptive Optics and Computational ImagingImages obtained with microscopes may be blurred by aberrations introduced by the sample. Adaptive optics has been used recently to correct for these aberrations and provide clearer images. Alternatively, the aberrations can be measured and the correction applied in post-processing. We will be examining this possibility. We are also developing 3D microscopy based on plenoptic imaging; this technique allows several views of the sample to be obtained simultaneously. Subsequent image processing can be used to examine the sample from different perspectives, or to focus at different depths in the sample. Lesion detection in mammographyThe sort of optimal detection techniqes which we have developed for exoplanet images can be applied to many tasks; one example is the detection of lesions in mammographs. This is complicated by the fact that there are many different kinds of lesion, and the background tissue varies greatly between subjects. |
Research Projects
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Project: EI CS 2008 0124 ITN PROPOSAL N DEVANEY ( REI705) Role: ROLE_DESC Description: DESCRIPTION Start/End Dates: 01-AUG-08 / 31-MAR-09 |
Book Chapters
| Devaney,N. (2002) 'Adaptive Optics: Principles, Performance and Challenges' In: Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on Optics in Astrophysics. Cargese, France: [Details] |
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Redfern, R.M., Devaney, M.N., O'Kane,P., Ballesteros, E., Gomez, R., Rosa, F., (1989) 'Image Sharpening of time-tagged photons from a photon-counting detector : application of a modified Wiener filter'. MNRAS, 238 (791). [Details] |
| Tanvir, N. R., Shanks, T., Major, J. V., Doel, A. P., Dunlop, C. N., Myers, R. M., Redfern, R. M., O'Kane, P., Devaney, M. N. (1991) 'High-resolution imaging of Virgo cluster galaxies. I - Observational techniques and first results'. MNRAS, 253 :21-24. [Details] |
| Devaney, M.N. (1992) 'Photometric techniques for close binary and multiple systems'. Astron Astrophys, 257 (835). [Details] |
| Dick, J.S.B., Devaney, M.N., Argyle, R.W., Jones, D.H.P. (1992) 'Binary star studies with small telescopes: photometry of close visual systems'. Meas Sci Technol, 3 (184). [Details] |
| Cagigal, M.P., Prieto, P.M., Rodríguez, A., Fuensalida, J.J., Devaney, M.N. (1995) 'Autocorrelation hole in nonlinear image detectors: an estimate using an auxiliary photomultiplier'. Opt Lett, 20 (2448). [Details] |
| Kidger, M. R., Gonzalez-Perez, J. N., de Diego, J. A., Zapatero-Osorio, M. R., Hammersley, P. L., Cepa, J., Devaney, N., Sahu, K., Vidal, I. (1995) 'A large optical and infrared outburst in OJ 287'. Astron Astrophys Suppl, (113). [Details] |
| Devaney, M.N., Thiébaut, E., Foy, R., Blazit, A., Bonneau, D., Bouvier, J., De Batz, B., Thom, Ch. (1995) 'The Ha envoronment of T Tauri resolved by speckle interferometry'. Astron Astrophys, 300 (181). [Details] |
| Bello, C.D., Devaney, N., Castro, J. (2000) 'The effect of Piston Errors on the Image Quality of Segmented mirror telescopes'. ReV Mex Astron Astrophys, 36 :57-66. [Details] |
| Schumacher, A., Devaney, N., Montoya, L. (2002) 'Phasing Segmented mirrors: a modification of the Keck narrow band technique and its application to ELTs'. Applied Optics, 41 :1297-1307. [Details] |
| Femenia, B., Devaney, N. (2003) 'Optimization with numerical simulations of the conjugate altitudes of deformable mirrors in an MCAO system'. Astron Astrophys, (404):1165-1176. [Details] |
| Devaney, N. et al. (2004) 'Preliminary design and plans for the GTC adaptive optics system'. Proc SPIE, (5382):431-439. [Details] |
| Devaney, N., Schumacher, A. (2004) 'Cophasing techniques for extremely large telescopes'. Proc SPIE, (5382):431-439. [Details] |
| Barrett, H., Myers, K., Devaney, N., Dainty, C. (2006) 'Task performance in astronomical adaptive optics'. Proc SPIE, 366 (6272). [Details] |
| Schumacher, A., Devaney, N. (2006) 'Phasing Segmented Mirrors using defocused images at visible wavelengths'. Mon Not Royal Astron Soc, :546-567. [Details] |
| Goncharov,A., Devaney,N., Esposito,S., Dainty,C. (2006) 'Experimental verification of the Virtual Wavefront Sensor concept'. Proc SPIE, (6272). [Details] |
| Barrett, H., Myers, K., Devaney, N., Dainty, C. (2006) 'Objective assesmet of Image Quality: IV. Application to Adaptive Optics'. JOSA, A, 23 :3080-3105. [Details] |
| Canales, J.E., Oti, P.J., Valle, M.P., Cagigal, N., Devaney (2006) 'Reduction of the diffraction pattern in segmented apertures'. Opt Eng, 45 (98001). [Details] |
| Caucci, L., Barrett, H.H., Devaney, N., Rodriguez, J.J. (2007) 'Application fo the Hotelling and ideal observers to the detection and localization of exoplanets'. JOSA, A, 24 . [Details] |
| Goncharov, A.V., Devaney, N., Dainty, C. (2007) 'Atmospheric Dispersion Compensation for extremely large telescopes'. Optics Express, 15 :1534-1542. [Details] |
| Devaney, N,Dalimier, E,Farrell, T,Coburn, D,Mackey, R,Mackey, D,Laurent, F,Daly, E,Dainty, C (2008) 'Correction of ocular and atmospheric wavefronts: a comparison of the performance of various deformable mirrors'. Applied Optics, 47 :6550-6562. [Details] |
| Devaney, N., Goncharov, A., Dainty, C. (2008) 'The chromatic effects of the atmosphere on astronomical adaptive optics'. Applied Optics, 47 :1072-1081. [Details] |
| Devaney, N,Goncharov, AV,Dainty, JC (2008) 'Chromatic effects of the atmosphere on astronomical adaptive optics'. Applied Optics, 47 :1072-1081. [Details] |
| Devaney, N., Coburn, D., Coleman, C., Dainty, C., Dalimier, E., Farrell, T., Mackey, D., Mackey, R. (2008) 'Characterisation of MEMs mirrors for use in atmospheric and ocular wavefront correction'. Proc SPIE 6888-1, :B13-B24. [Details] |
| Burke,D., Gladysz,S., Roberts,L., Devaney,N., Dainty,C. (2009) 'An Improved Technique for the Photometry and Astrometry of Faint Companions'. Publ Astron Soc Pac, 121 :767-777. [Details] |
| Murphy,K., Burke,D., Devaney, N.,Dainty,C. (2010) 'Experimental detection of optical vortices with a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor'. Optics Express, 18 :15448-15460. [Details] |
Conference Publications
| Devaney, M.N. (1993) Speckle Interferometric Observations of Binary Stars from La Palma Proc ESO conference on ?High Resolution Imaging by Interferometry II? [Details] |
| Clegg, R.E.S.C., Devaney, M.N. (1993) Images & Kinematics of the ''born-again' planetary, Abell 78 IAU Symp [Details] |
| Kidger, M., Devaney, N., Sahu, K., Lopez, S. (1994) Nova Cassiopeiae 1993 IAU Circular [Details] |
| Devaney, M.N. (1996) Adaptive Optics plans for the Gran Telescopio Canarias Proc SPIE [Details] |
| Escudero-Sanz, I., Manescau, A., Devaney, M.N., (1996) Optical configurations of the Gran Telescopio Canarias Proc SPIE [Details] |
| Devaney, M.N. (1997) Adaptive Optics & Laser Guide Star performance estimates for the Gran Telescopio Canarias Proc ESO workshop on ?Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics?, Garching [Details] |
| Devaney, M.N., Bello, C.D., Keen, J. (1998) Adaptive Optics for the Gran Telescopio Canarias Proc SPIE , pp.561-567 [Details] |
| Castro, J., Bello, C., Jochum, L., Devaney, N. (1998) Image quality and active optics for the Gran Telescopio Canarias Proc SPIE [Details] |
| Devaney, M.N., Keen, J. (1998) The use of turbulence profile measurements to predict the performance of Adaptive Optics Systems New Astronomy Reviews , pp.459-463 [Details] |
| Jochum, L.J., Castro, J., Devaney, M.N. (1998) Gran Telescopio Canarias: current status of its optical design and opto-mechanical support system Proc SPIE [Details] |
| Devaney, N., Cavaller,L., Jochum, L., Bello, C.D., Castro, J. (2000) Guacamole: the GTC Guiding, Acquisition and Calibration Module Proc SPIE , pp.146-153 [Details] |
| Castro, F.J., Devaney, N., Jochum, L., Ronquillo, B., Cavaller, L., (2000) The status of the design and fabrication of the GTC mirrors Proc SPIE , pp.24-33 [Details] |
| Esposito, S., Devaney, N. (2001) Segmented mirror co-phasing using a Pyramid Sensor ?Beyond conventional Adaptive Optics? Venice, [Details] |
| Schumacher, A., Montoya, L., Devaney, N., Dohlen, K., Dierickx, P. (2001) Phasing ELTs for Adaptive Optics-Preliminary results of a comparison of techniques ?Beyond conventional Adaptive Optics? Venice, [Details] |
| Devaney, N.; Bello, D.; Femenia, B.; Castro, J.; Villegas Lopez, A.; Reyes, M.; Fuensalida, J. (2004) Preliminary design and plans for the GTC adaptive optics system SPIE Advancements in Adaptive Optics [Details] |
| Devaney, N., Schumacher, A (2004) Cophasing techniques for extremely large telescopes Second Backaskog Workshop on Extremely Large Telescopes [Details] |
| Barrett, H., Myers, K.J., Devaney, N., Dainty, C. (2006) Task performance in astronomical adaptive optics SPIE Advances in Adaptive Optics II [Details] |
| Cuevas,S.,Sanchez,B., Bringas,V.,Espejo, C.,Flores,R.,Capa,O.,Lara,G.,Chavoya,A.,Anguiano,G.,Arciniega,S.,Dorantes,A.,Gonzalez, J.L., Montoya,M.,Toral,R., Hernez,H., Nava,R.,Devaney,N.,Castro,J.,Cavaller,L.,Farah,A., Godoy,J., Cobos,F.J., Tejada,C., Garfias,F. (2006) Site acceptance of the commissioning instrument for the Gran Telescopio Canarias Proc SPIE [Details] |
| Goncharov, A., Devaney, N., Esposito, S., Dainty, C. (2006) Experimental verification of the Virtual Wavefront Sensor concept SPIE Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes [Details] |
| Devaney, N. (2007) Review of Astronomical Adaptive Optics and plans SPIE Adaptive Optics for Laser Systems and Other Applications [Details] |
| Burke, D., Devaney, N., Gladysz, S. (2008) Optimal linear estimation of binary star parameters Proc SPIE [Details] |
| Myers, R.M., Bonaccini Calia, D., Devaney, N., (2008) The European LGS test facility Proc SPIE [Details] |
| Goncharov,A.V., Devaney, N., Farrell,T. (2008) Alternative schemes for multi-reference wavefront sensing Proc SPIE [Details] |
| N. Devaney, D. Coburn, C. Coleman, J.C. Dainty, E. Dalimier, T. Farrell, D. Lara, D. Mackey, R. Mackey (2009) Characterisation of MEMs mirrors for use in atmospheric and ocular wavefront correction SPIE MEMS Adaptive Optics II [Details] |
| A.V. Goncharov, L. Lobato Bailon, N. Devaney, J.C. Dainty (2009) Optical testing of lens systems with concentric design SPIE Optical Measurement Systems for Industrial Inspection VI [Details] |
| Devaney, N and Thiebaut, E. (2011) Inverse problem approach to the detection of exoplanets in multiwavelength data OSA [Details] |
Conference Paper
| Goncharov., Devaney., Dainty., Esposito. (2006) Experimental verification of the virtual wavefront sensor concept. Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes LM Stepp. Orlando: Conference Paper [Details] |
| Barrett, M., Devaney, D., (2006) Task performance in Astronomical Adaptive Optics. Advances in Adaptive Optics ii Ellerbroek, Bonaccini Calia Orlando. Conference Paper [Details] |
Invited papers
| Devaney,N. (2007) Review of Astronomical Adaptive Optics. Adaptive Optics for Laser systems and other Applications Prague. Invited papers [Details] |
Employment
| Employer: Royal Greenwich Observatory Position: Post Doctoral Research Associate |
| Employer: Meudon Observatory, Paris Position: Post doctoral researcher |
| Employer: Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias Position: Support Astronomer |
| Employer: Grantecan, Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias Position: Adaptive Optics manager |
Education
| Year 1989 Institution: National University of Ireland Qualification: Subject: |
| Year 1985 Institution: University College Galway Qualification: Subject: |
Teaching Interests
| Current Teaching: PH103: History of Astronomy PH351 : Wave Optics PH402: Medical Image processing PH459: Applied Optics Past: PH211: Electricity, Magnetism and circuits |
Recent Postgraduates
Current Postgraduate Students
| Thomas Brennan, Masters - Research - Master of Science - Supervisor |
| Gomathy Ramaswamy, Doctorate - Ph.D.(Science) - Supervisor |