Status of PRIMA for the VLTI: heading to astrometry

C. Schmid; R. Abuter; A. Merand; J. Sahlmann; J. Alonso; L. Andolfato; G. van Belle; F. Delplancke; F. Dérie; N. Di Lieto; R. Frahm; Ph. Gitton; N. Gomes; P. Haguenauer; B. Justen; S. Lévêque; S. Ménardi; S. Morel; A. Müller; T. Phan Duc; Eszter Pozna; A. Ramirez; N. Schuhler; D. Ségransan

doi:10.1117/12.926426

12 September 2012 Status of PRIMA for the VLTI: heading to astrometry

C. Schmid, R. Abuter, A. Merand, J. Sahlmann, J. Alonso, L. Andolfato, G. van Belle, F. Delplancke, F. Dérie, N. Di Lieto, R. Frahm, Ph. Gitton, N. Gomes, P. Haguenauer, B. Justen, S. Lévêque, S. Ménardi, S. Morel, A. Müller, T. Phan Duc, Eszter Pozna, A. Ramirez, N. Schuhler, D. Ségransan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8445, Optical and Infrared Interferometry III; 84450F (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926426
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The Phase Referenced Imaging and Micro Arcsecond Astrometry (PRIMA) facility for the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), is being installed and tested in the observatory of Paranal. Since January 2011 the integration and individual testing of the different subsystem has come to a necessary minimum. At the same time the astrometric commissioning phase has begun. In this contribution we give an update on the status of the facility and present some highlights and difficulties on our way from first dual-feed fringe detection to first astrometric measurements. We focus on technical and operational aspects. In particular, within the context of the latter we are going to present a modified mode of operation that scans across the fringes. We will show that this mode, originally only intended for calibration purposes, facilitates the detection of dual-fringes.

Citation Download Citation

C. Schmid, R. Abuter, A. Merand, J. Sahlmann, J. Alonso, L. Andolfato, G. van Belle, F. Delplancke, F. Dérie, N. Di Lieto, R. Frahm, Ph. Gitton, N. Gomes, P. Haguenauer, B. Justen, S. Lévêque, S. Ménardi, S. Morel, A. Müller, T. Phan Duc, Eszter Pozna, A. Ramirez, N. Schuhler, and D. Ségransan "Status of PRIMA for the VLTI: heading to astrometry", Proc. SPIE 8445, Optical and Infrared Interferometry III, 84450F (12 September 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.926426

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