System overview of the VLTI Spectro-Imager

L. Jocou; J. P. Berger; F. Malbet; P. Kern; U. Beckmann; D. Lorenzetti; L. Corcione; G. Li Causi; D. Buscher; J. Young; M. Gai; G. Weigelt; G. Zins; G. Duvert; K. Perraut; P. Labeye; O. Absil; P. Garcia; D. Loreggia; J. Lima; J. Rebordao; S. Ligori; A. Amorim; P. Rabou; J. B. Le Bouquin; C. Haniff; E. Le Coarer; P. Feautrier; G. Duchene; M. Benisty; A. Chelli; E. Herwats; A. Delboulbé

doi:10.1117/12.789154

28 July 2008 System overview of the VLTI Spectro-Imager

L. Jocou, J. P. Berger, F. Malbet, P. Kern, U. Beckmann, D. Lorenzetti, L. Corcione, G. Li Causi, D. Buscher, J. Young, M. Gai, G. Weigelt, G. Zins, G. Duvert, K. Perraut, P. Labeye, O. Absil, P. Garcia, D. Loreggia, J. Lima, J. Rebordao, S. Ligori, A. Amorim, P. Rabou, J. B. Le Bouquin, C. Haniff, E. Le Coarer, P. Feautrier, G. Duchene, M. Benisty, A. Chelli, E. Herwats, A. Delboulbé

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7013, Optical and Infrared Interferometry; 70132Y (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789154
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

The VLTI Spectro Imager project aims to perform imaging with a temporal resolution of 1 night and with a maximum angular resolution of 1 milliarcsecond, making best use of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer capabilities. To fulfill the scientific goals (see Garcia et. al.), the system requirements are: a) combining 4 to 6 beams; b) working in spectral bands J, H and K; c) spectral resolution from R= 100 to 12000; and d) internal fringe tracking on-axis, or off-axis when associated to the PRIMA dual-beam facility. The concept of VSI consists on 6 sub-systems: a common path distributing the light between the fringe tracker and the scientific instrument, the fringe tracker ensuring the co-phasing of the array, the scientific instrument delivering the interferometric observables and a calibration tool providing sources for internal alignment and interferometric calibrations. The two remaining sub-systems are the control system and the observation support software dedicated to the reduction of the interferometric data. This paper presents the global concept of VSI science path including the common path, the scientific instrument and the calibration tool. The scientific combination using a set of integrated optics multi-way beam combiners to provide high-stability visibility and closure phase measurements are also described. Finally we will address the performance budget of the global VSI instrument. The fringe tracker and scientific spectrograph will be shortly described.

Citation Download Citation

L. Jocou, J. P. Berger, F. Malbet, P. Kern, U. Beckmann, D. Lorenzetti, L. Corcione, G. Li Causi, D. Buscher, J. Young, M. Gai, G. Weigelt, G. Zins, G. Duvert, K. Perraut, P. Labeye, O. Absil, P. Garcia, D. Loreggia, J. Lima, J. Rebordao, S. Ligori, A. Amorim, P. Rabou, J. B. Le Bouquin, C. Haniff, E. Le Coarer, P. Feautrier, G. Duchene, M. Benisty, A. Chelli, E. Herwats, and A. Delboulbé "System overview of the VLTI Spectro-Imager", Proc. SPIE 7013, Optical and Infrared Interferometry, 70132Y (28 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789154

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