Mark III Interferometer
Abstract
This work is a continuation of that begun under Naval Research Laboratory Contracts N00014-84-C-2082 and N00014-86-C-2114. All three of these contracts involved participation in the development and testing of the Mark-III stellar interferometer at the Mount Wilson Observatory in California. This instrument employs a two-color technique to reduce position errors due to atmospheric turbulence, and can operate with four possible baseline configurations ranging from 9 to 20 meters. Despite its function as a technology development platform, it is also capable of stellar separation and stellar diameter measurements with nearly unprecedented accuracy and sensitivity. The major contributions of this work are the development of a dispersed-fringe group delay measurement system which can boost the system sensitivity be several stellar magnitudes, and the initial stages of development of an infrared capability, which should increase the future scientific interest of the facility. Keywords: Astronomy, Astrometry.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 22, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA217188
Entities
People
- David H. Staelin
- Edward J. Kim
- Howard R. Stuart
- John W. Barrett
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology