Publication | Closed Access
Star separator system for the dual-field capability (PRIMA) of the VLTI
16
Citations
0
References
2004
Year
Adaptive OpticAstronomical Coordinate SystemPhotometryEngineeringStellar StructureMicro-arcsecond Astrometry FacilityInterferometryActive OpticsAstronomical Image AnalysisSpace OpticInstrumentationSynchrotron RadiationStar Separator SystemsAccurate Mechanical SystemsStar Separator SystemDual-field CapabilityAstrophysics
In the framework of the Phase-Referenced Imaging and Micro-arcsecond Astrometry facility (PRIMA) developed for the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), a sophisticated opto-mechanical system has been developed by TNO-TPD. It will be placed at the Coudé focus of the telescopes and will allow picking up two stars anywhere in a 2 arcmin field-of-view and collimating their light into two beams that will propagate through the rest of the interferometer toward the instrument. These Star Separator systems have a very high optical quality, fast and accurate pointing and chopping, independent high speed remote control of the beam tip-tilt and of the pupil position. They are very rigid, accurate mechanical systems non-sensitive to temperature variations The Star Separator systems are described in this paper.