Preparing MIDI science operation at VLTI

Sebastien Morel; Pascal Ballester; Bertrand Bauvir; Peter Biereichel; Jean-Gabriel Cuby; Emmanuel Galliano; Nicholas Haddad; Nico Housen; Christian A. Hummel; Andreas Kaufer; Pierre Kervella; Isabelle Percheron; Florence Puech; Fredrik T. Rantakyro; Andrea Richichi; Cyrus Sabet; Markus Schoeller; Jason Spyromilio; Martin Vannier; Anders Wallander; Markus Wittkowski; Christoph Leinert; Uwe Graser; Udo Neumann; Walter J. Jaffe; Jeroen A. de Jong

doi:10.1117/12.550116

20 October 2004 Preparing MIDI science operation at VLTI

Sebastien Morel, Pascal Ballester, Bertrand Bauvir, Peter Biereichel, Jean-Gabriel Cuby, Emmanuel Galliano, Nicholas Haddad, Nico Housen, Christian A. Hummel, Andreas Kaufer, Pierre Kervella, Isabelle Percheron, Florence Puech, Fredrik T. Rantakyro, Andrea Richichi, Cyrus Sabet, Markus Schoeller, Jason Spyromilio, Martin Vannier, Anders Wallander, Markus Wittkowski, Christoph Leinert, Uwe Graser, Udo Neumann, Walter J. Jaffe, Jeroen A. de Jong

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5491, New Frontiers in Stellar Interferometry; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550116
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2004, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

MIDI (MID-infrared Interferometric instrument) gave its first N-band (8 to 13 micron) stellar interference fringes on the VLTI (Very Large Telescope Interferometer) at Cerro Paranal Observatory (Chile) in December 2002. An lot of work had to be done to transform it, from a successful physics experiment, into a premium science instrument which is offered to the worldwide community of astronomers since September 2003. The process of "paranalization", carried out by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in collaboration with the MIDI consortium, has aimed to make MIDI simpler to use, more reliable, and more efficient. We describe in this paper these different aspects of paranalization (detailing the improvement brought to the observation software) and the lessons we have learnt. Some general rules, for bringing an interferometric instrument into routine operation in an observatory, can be drawn from the experience with MIDI. We also report our experience of the first "service mode" run of an interferometer (VLTI + MIDI) that took place in April 2004.

Citation Download Citation

Sebastien Morel, Pascal Ballester, Bertrand Bauvir, Peter Biereichel, Jean-Gabriel Cuby, Emmanuel Galliano, Nicholas Haddad, Nico Housen, Christian A. Hummel, Andreas Kaufer, Pierre Kervella, Isabelle Percheron, Florence Puech, Fredrik T. Rantakyro, Andrea Richichi, Cyrus Sabet, Markus Schoeller, Jason Spyromilio, Martin Vannier, Anders Wallander, Markus Wittkowski, Christoph Leinert, Uwe Graser, Udo Neumann, Walter J. Jaffe, and Jeroen A. de Jong "Preparing MIDI science operation at VLTI", Proc. SPIE 5491, New Frontiers in Stellar Interferometry, (20 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550116

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