Portable intensity interferometry

Elliott P. Horch; Matthew A. Camarata

doi:10.1117/12.925782

12 September 2012 Portable intensity interferometry

Elliott P. Horch, Matthew A. Camarata

Proceedings Volume 8445, Optical and Infrared Interferometry III; 84452L (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925782
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

A limitation of the current generation of long baseline optical interferometers is the need to make the light interfere prior to detection. This is unlike the radio regime where signals can be recorded fast enough to use electronics to accomplish the same result. This paper describes a modern optical intensity interferometer based on electronics with picosecond timing resolution. The instrument will allow for portable optical interferometry with much larger baselines than currently possible by using existing large telescopes. With modern electronics, the limiting magnitude of the technique at a 4-m aperture size becomes competitive with some amplitude-based interferometers. The instrumentation will permit a wireless mode of operation with GPS clocking technology, extending the work to extremely large baselines. We discuss the basic observing strategy, a planned observational program at the Lowell Observatory 1.8-m and 1.0-m telescopes, and the science that can realistically be done with this instrumentation.

Citation Download Citation

Elliott P. Horch and Matthew A. Camarata "Portable intensity interferometry", Proc. SPIE 8445, Optical and Infrared Interferometry III, 84452L (12 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.925782

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