Phase Closure Image Reconstruction for Future VLTI Instrumentation

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2008

Authors

Paulo Garcia (Author) FEUP; Mercedes E Filho (Author) FEUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: OPTICAL AND INFRARED INTERFEROMETRY

Conference on Optical and Infrared Interferometry

Marseille, FRANCE, JUN 23-27, 2008

Indexing

ISI Proceedings

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 3 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Physical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-4B9

DOI: 10.1117/12.787877

Abstract (EN): Classically, optical and near-infrared interferometry have relied on closure phase techniques to produce images. Such techniques allow us to achieve modest dynamic ranges. In order to test the feasibility of next generation optical interferometers in the context of the VLTI-spectroimager (VSI), we have embarked on a study of image reconstruction and analysis. Our main aim was to test, the influence of the number of telescopes, observing nights and distribution of the visibility points oil the quality of the reconstructed images. Our results show that observations using six Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) during one complete night yield the best results in general and is critical in most science cases: the number of telescopes is the determining factor in the image reconstruction outcome. In terms of imaging capabilities, an optical, six telescope VLTI-type configuration and similar to 200 meter baseline will achieve 4 mas spatial resolution, which is comparable to ALMA and almost 50 times better than JWST will achieve at 2.2 microns. Our results show that such an instrument will be capable of imaging, with unprecedented detail, a plethora of sources, ranging from complex stellar surfaces to microlensing events.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10