Strategy for interferometry with the Large Binocular Telescope

John M. Hill

doi:10.1117/12.177274

9 June 1994 Strategy for interferometry with the Large Binocular Telescope

John M. Hill

Proceedings Volume 2200, Amplitude and Intensity Spatial Interferometry II; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177274
Event: 1994 Symposium on Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1994, Kailua, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

A summary of the scientific requirements and the optical design requirements for the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT, former Columbus Project) beam combining optics is presented. Our goal for LBT is to produce a phased focal plane combining the beams from two 8.408 m diameter primaries on a common mount (14.417 m center-center). This provides an interferometric baseline of 22.825 m (edge-edge). This combined focal plane should be phased, in-focus and unvignetted over a field covering most or all of the isoplanatic patch in the best seeing conditions. These field requirements should be met for wavelengths from 0.4 to 20 micrometers . This allows the observer to obtain the maximum amount of diffraction-limited imaging information around each reference source. The individual telescope images should be close to diffraction-limited over the isoplanatic patch in order to facilitate adaptive correction of the interferometric field. A minimum number of warm reflections and minimum obstruction of the beams should be used in order to reduce the emissivity. The two- shooter telescope will be uniquely powerful in the thermal infrared (based on the combination of interferometric baseline and single element diffraction limit). We will be discussing several related classes of beam combiners to evaluate design tradeoffs for LBT. An earlier design considered direct combination of the beams from two F/33 secondary mirrors with long back focal distance. We have also considered reimaging the F/15 Gregorian focal planes with a number of optical designs.

Citation Download Citation

John M. Hill "Strategy for interferometry with the Large Binocular Telescope", Proc. SPIE 2200, Amplitude and Intensity Spatial Interferometry II, (9 June 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177274

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available