[en] The Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer (LBTI) is a strategically important instrument for exploiting the use of the LBT as a 22.7 m telescope. The LBTI has two science cameras (covering the 1.5-5 μm and 8-13 μm atmospheric windows), and a number of observing modes that allow it to carry out a wide range of high-spatial resolution observations. Some simple modes, such as AO imaging, are in routine use. We report here on testing and commissioning of the system for its more ambitious goals as a nulling interferometer and coherent imager. The LBTI will carry out key surveys to Hunt for Observable Signatures of Terrestrial planetary Systems (HOSTS) and an LBTI Exozodi-Exoplanet Common Hunt (LEECH). The current nulling and coherent imaging performance is described.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Hinz, Phil; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Bailey, Vanessa P.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Defrere, Denis ; Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astroph. extragalactique et observations spatiales (AEOS)
Downey, E.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Esposito, Simone; INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri (Italy)
Hill, J.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Hoffmann, William F.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Leisenring, J.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Montoya, Manny; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
McMahon, T.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Puglisi, A.; INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri (Italy)
Skemer, A.; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Skrutskie, M.; Univ. of Virginia (United States)
Vaitheeswaran, Vidhya; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States)
Vaz, Amali; Steward Observatory, The Univ. of Arizona (United States))
Esposito, S., Riccardi, A., Pinna, E., Puglisi, A., Quirós-Pacheco, F., Arcidiacono, C., Xompero, M., Briguglio, R., Agapito, G., Busoni, L., Fini, L., Argomedo, J., Gherardi, A., Brusa, G., Miller, D., Guerra, J. C., Stefanini, P., and Salinari, P., "Large Binocular Telescope Adaptive Optics System: new achievements and perspectives in adaptive optics," Proc. SPIE 8149 (2011).
Hinz, P.M., Connors, T., McMahon, T. Cheng, A., Peng, C.Y., Hoffmann, W., McCarthy, D.J., Angel, R., "Large Binocular Telescope Interferometer: the universal beam combiner" Proc. SPIE 5491, 787 (2004).
Hinz, P., Arbo, P., Bailey, V., Connors, T., Durney, O., Esposito, Simone, Hoffmann, W., Jones, T., Leisenring, J., Montoya, M. et al., "First AO-corrected interferometry with LBTI: steps towards routine coherent imaging observations" Proc. SPIE 8445, 84450U-84450U-10 (2012).
LBTI web site: lbti.as.arizona.edu
Hinz, P. M., Solheid, E., Durney, O., and Hoffmann, W. F., "NIC: LBTI's nulling and imaging camera," Proc. SPIE 7013 (2008)
