Sat Jul 19 09:10:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**University of Arizona Researcher Awarded $1 Million to Develop Groundbreaking Optical Instrument for Large Binocular Telescope**

TUCSON, AZ – Jacob Isbell, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona Department of Astronomy, has secured nearly $1 million in funding from the National Science Foundation to spearhead the development of the LBT Interferometer Visible Extension (LIVE). This innovative optical instrument will dramatically enhance the Large Binocular Telescope’s (LBT) visible-light imaging capabilities, allowing scientists to observe the universe with unprecedented clarity and paving the way for U.S. leadership in next-generation astronomy.

LIVE will leverage existing techniques developed for the LBT Interferometer (LBTI) and extend them into the visible-light spectrum, opening up a new window into the cosmos. By using the LBT’s twin 8.4-meter mirrors in tandem – effectively creating a 28.8-meter telescope – LIVE will provide resolution down to 4-5 milliarcseconds, enabling researchers to image intricate details of protoplanetary disks where planets form, monitor changes on moons such as Io and Europa, and study the dynamic environments surrounding supermassive black holes.

“I’m thrilled about what the LIVE project makes possible,” said Isbell. “LIVE is an international collaboration that will take proven techniques developed for the LBTI and extend them into the visible-light regime, opening up a new view of the universe.”

According to the university, Isbell’s success in securing this substantial grant as a postdoctoral scholar is a testament to his extraordinary potential and the University of Arizona’s commitment to supporting early-career researchers.

The project is an international collaboration with participants in Germany, Italy, and Mexico. Beyond its scientific objectives, LIVE will provide invaluable, hands-on training in adaptive optics, interferometry, and optical engineering for both undergraduate and graduate students, aligning with the university’s mission to foster scientific education and discovery. The award will allow students to immerse themselves in the project.

“Projects like LIVE help us confront some of the most profound questions in science—how stars live and die, how planets form, and where life might exist beyond Earth,” said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships.

The instrument is expected to be a critical pathfinder for the nation’s future Extremely Large Telescopes.

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