Simultaneous observation of two stars using the PRIMA Star Separator
conference paper
ESO is building the Phase Referenced Imaging and Microarcsecond Astronomy (PRIMA) facility for the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in Chile. PRIMA will enable interferometric imaging of very faint objects and high precision astrometry with both Unit (UT) and Auxiliary (AT) telescopes. The PRIMA facility consists of four major sub systems: Star Separators, Differential Delay Lines, Metrology and Fringe Sensor Units. TNO has developed the PRIMA Star Separator (STS) subsystems for both the UT and AT telescopes. The STS separates the light of two astronomical objects and feeds it into the long stroke delay line. The STS compensates for field rotation, stabilizes the beam tip tilt and adjust the lateral and axial alignment of the pupil. Chopping and/or counter-chopping on the science object or the guide star has also been implemented.
Topics
Aperture synthesisAstrometryESOEuropean southern observatoryInterferometryPRIMAScan mechanismStar separatorSTSVery large telescope interferometerVLTIAstronomical satellitesAstrophysicsElectric delay linesGeodetic satellitesImaging techniquesOptical instrumentsOptical telescopesWavesAstronomical objectsAxial alignmentDifferential delay linesGuide starHigh-precisionInfra Red interferometryInterferometric imagingPhase referenced imagingSensor unitsSimultaneous observationSub systemsTip-tiltTelescopes
TNO Identifier
241033
ISSN
0277786X
ISBN
9780819472236
Article nr.
No.: 70133F
Source title
Optical and Infrared Interferometry, 23-27 June 2008, Marseille, France