Looking into the future of interferometry using free-space beam propagation

Arturo O. Martinez; Caleb G. Abbott; Stuart M. Jefferies; Theo A. ten Brummelaar; Fabien R. Baron

doi:10.1117/12.2561666

13 December 2020 Looking into the future of interferometry using free-space beam propagation

Arturo O. Martinez, Caleb G. Abbott, Stuart M. Jefferies, Theo A. ten Brummelaar, Fabien R. Baron

Proceedings Volume 11446, Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VII; 114461B (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2561666
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2020, Online Only

Abstract

We describe a new concept for future interferometric observations. Our laboratory experiment simulates an interferometer with two telescopes observing through different volumes of atmospheric turbulence. We simulate both vertical and horizontal propagation through the atmosphere; the latter mimics free-space beam propagation without the need for vacuum pipes or fiber optics. Practically, we simulate the effects of atmospheric turbulence using numerically calculated Kolmogorov phase screens injected onto a spatial light modulator. We correct this distorted wavefront using an adaptive optics system to determine the range of turbulence conditions over which we can detect fringes from the two telescopes. Our experiment lays the groundwork for investigating the potential of having movable telescopes in which light propagates from the telescopes to the beam combiner through free space.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Arturo O. Martinez, Caleb G. Abbott, Stuart M. Jefferies, Theo A. ten Brummelaar, and Fabien R. Baron "Looking into the future of interferometry using free-space beam propagation", Proc. SPIE 11446, Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging VII, 114461B (13 December 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2561666

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