List of astronomical interferometers at visible and infrared wavelengths

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Here is a list of currently existing astronomical optical interferometers (i.e. operating from visible to mid-infrared wavelengths), and some parameters describing their performance.

Contents

Current performance of ground-based interferometers

Columns 2-5 determine the range of targets that can be observed and the range of science which can be done. Higher limiting magnitude means that the array can observe fainter sources. The limiting magnitude is determined by the atmospheric seeing, the diameters of the telescopes and the light lost in the system. A larger range of baselines means that a wider variety of science can be done and on a wider range of sources.

Columns 6-10 indicate the approximate quality and total amount of science data the array is expected to obtain. This is per year, to account for the average number of cloud-free nights on which each array is operated.

New interferometers and improvements to existing interferometers

Expected Future Performance of Astronomical Interferometers
Interferometer and observing modeWavebandLimiting magnitude Minimum baseline (m)
(un-projected)
Maximum baseline (m)Approx. no. visibility measurements per year
(measurements per night x nights used per year)
Max ratio of no. phase / no. amplitude measurements
(measure of imaging performance, 0 = none)
Accuracy of amplitude2 measurementsAccuracy of phase measurements
(milli-radians)
Number of spectral channels
(max in use simultaneously)
Comments
LBTI
(near infrared)
J, H, K>2002210000000130%100100?2006?
MRO R, I, J, H, K1474001000000.61%101000?Under Construction
VLTI
(near infrared using 4 ATs and PRIMA)
J, H, K1282001000011%0.14000?decommissioned 2014
VLTI
(near infrared using 3 UTs and PRIMA)
J, H, K144613050011%0.34000?decommissioned 2014
VLTI
(near infrared using 4 UTs and MATISSE)
J, H, K, N, Qcommissioning 2017?

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. T.A. ten Brummelaar; et al. (2005). "First Results from the CHARA Array. II. A Description of the Instrument". Astrophysical Journal. 628 (1): 453–465. arXiv: astro-ph/0504082 . Bibcode:2005ApJ...628..453T. doi:10.1086/430729. S2CID   987223.
  2. M.M. Colavita; et al. (1999). "The Palomar Testbed Interferometer". Astrophysical Journal. 510 (1): 505–521. arXiv: astro-ph/9810262 . Bibcode:1999ApJ...510..505C. doi:10.1086/306579. S2CID   15986684.

Further reading