Use Of The Coherent MMT For Diffraction Limited Imaging

J. C. Hebden; E. K. Hege; J. M. Beckers

doi:10.1117/12.963510

20 August 1986 Use Of The Coherent MMT For Diffraction Limited Imaging

J. C. Hebden, E. K. Hege, J. M. Beckers

Proceedings Volume 0628, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes III; (1986) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.963510
Event: 1986 Astronomy Conferences, 1986, Tucson, United States

Abstract

All six MMT telescopes can now be optically cophased simultaneously over a wide field of view yielding coherent coverage of the complete Fourier transform plane corresponding to that of a pupilmasked telescope of 6.86m aperture. Open-loop phasing control compensates for flexure-induced path-length changes due to variable gravitational loading as a function of elevation. The system has been used to produce diffraction limited images and differential images of Alpha Orionis using narrow-band (1.2A) filters centered both on Hydrogen-alpha and on a similar bandpass out of the absorption line. Corresponding wide (100A) and narrow-band images of Gamma and Epsilon Orionis show the expected result for unresolved sources at the diffraction limited resolution of the fully-phased MMT.

Citation Download Citation

J. C. Hebden, E. K. Hege, and J. M. Beckers "Use Of The Coherent MMT For Diffraction Limited Imaging", Proc. SPIE 0628, Advanced Technology Optical Telescopes III, (20 August 1986); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.963510

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