CHARA Michigan Phase-tracker (CHAMP): A preliminary performance report

David H. Berger, John D. Monnier, Rafael Millan-Gabet, Theo A. Ten Brummelaar, Matthew Anderson, Jennifer L. Blum, Timothy Blasius, Ettore Pedretti, Nathalie Thureau

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

The CHARA Michigan Phase-tracker (CHAMP) is a real-time fringe tracker for the CHARA Array, a six-telescope long baseline optical interferometer on Mount Wilson, California. CHAMP has been optimized for tracking sensitivity at J, H, or K bands and is not meant as a science instrument itself. This ultimately results in maximum sensitivity for all the science beam combiners that benefit from stabilized fringes. CHAMP was designed, built, and tested in the laboratory at the University of Michigan and will be delivered to the CHARA Array in 2008. We present the final design of CHAMP, highlighting some its key characteristics, including a novel post-combination transport and imaging system. We also discuss testing and validation studies and present first closed-loop operation in the laboratory.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationOptical and Infrared Interferometry
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
EventOptical and Infrared Interferometry - Marseille, France
Duration: Jun 23 2008Jun 27 2008

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7013
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherOptical and Infrared Interferometry
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityMarseille
Period6/23/086/27/08

Keywords

  • Fringe tracking
  • Instrumentation
  • Long baseline optical interferometry
  • Near infrared

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