  Integral field spectrographs are an important technology for exoplanet
imaging, due to their ability to take spectra in a high-contrast environment,
and improve planet detection sensitivity through spectral differential imaging.
ALES is the first integral field spectrograph capable of imaging exoplanets
from 3-5$\mu$m, and will extend our ability to characterize self-luminous
exoplanets into a wavelength range where they peak in brightness. ALES is
installed inside LBTI/LMIRcam on the Large Binocular Telescope, taking
advantage of existing AO systems, camera optics, and a HAWAII-2RG detector. The
new optics that comprise ALES are a Keplerian magnifier, a silicon lenslet
array with diffraction suppressing pinholes, a direct vision prism, and
calibration optics. All of these components are installed in filter wheels
making ALES a completely modular design. ALES saw first light at the LBT in
June 2015.
