Optical Interferometry Continuation of Cavendish Astrophysics Rolling Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The success of the Hubble Space Telescope and the motivation for its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, have been largely driven by the desire for images with resolutions an order of magnitude better than routinely achieved by ground-based telescopes. However, even this may be inadequate for understanding the physics underlying many important astrophysical phenomena and in many cases resolutions 10-100 times better than these flagship missions are required. Such milli- and sub-milli-arcsecond resolutions can only be delivered by optical/infrared interferometers which synthesize effective telescope diameters of 100s of meters using arrays of smaller telescopes. The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) is an optical/IR imaging interferometer currently under construction in New Mexico in a partnership between New Mexico Tech (NMT) and the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge. Its Phase 1 implementation will combine light from six 1.4 m telescopes, separated by up to 350m, to permit imaging in the near-infrared with an angular resolution of 0.7 milli-arcseconds, i.e. 10 times better than a diffraction-limited 30 m-class telescope. The MROI builds on the success of other interferometers such as Georgia State's CHARA Array, the Keck Interferometer and the VLTI, which are now routinely used to tackle important astrophysical questions and which have demonstrated that interferometry can be a valuable tool for astronomers who are not interferometric specialists. By optimizing its design for the imaging of faint astrophysical targets, the MROI is expected to have a limiting sensitivity 10-100 times greater than has been realized by any optical/IR interferometer to date. It is the MROI's unique capability to deliver model-independent images at ultra-high resolution, efficiently, and at much higher sensitivity than has been previously realised that offers the most exciting potential for new science. The scope of this research will be very broad. Studies with first-generation IR-arrays have spanned topics as diverse as fundamental parameter estimation of stars, the molecular envelopes of evolved giants, the geometrical extension and evolution of novae ejecta, and the structure of AGN cores. All of these will be accessible at the MROI, though with much higher efficiency, sensitivity and completeness than has hitherto been available with the VLTI and similar current-generation arrays. The MROI is a joint activity of NMT and the Cavendish Laboratory. NMT are providing the majority of the capital funds, while Cavendish researchers - who pioneered interferometry at optical/IR wavelengths - are providing technical leadership and oversight of the array deployment. The proposed research reflects this partnership and will involve staff at the Cavendish completing three key tasks related to the commissioning of the MROI. These will be: * The development and delivery of the real-time control algorithms for the first-light instrument, a fringe tracking beam combiner. Here the goals will be to deliver the critical algorithms necessary to detect and track fringes on the faintest sources with high precision. * The design and coding of the first-light data reduction pipeline for the MROI. This software will be used to produce diagnostic measures critical for optimising the performance of the interferometer as well as producing the first science results from the MROI. * To lead the technical and scientific commissioning effort to deliver first fringes with the MROI. This activity will be led by two of the senior staff at the Cavendish who have had considerable experience of the alignment, integration and commissioning of a number of other interferometric arrays. These activities will form a significant contribution towards the completion of the array and put the UK in a leading position to exploit the science which will result from its operation.
Publications
Smith R
(2012)
Resolving the terrestrial planet forming regions of HD 113766 and HD 172555 with MIDI MIDI observations of HD 113766 and HD 172555
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Payne I
(2012)
Numerical simulations of MROI imaging of GEO satellites
Oudmaijer R
(2012)
Optical interferometry - the sharpest tool in the box
in Astronomy & Geophysics
McCracken TM
(2013)
Open-loop phase shifting for fast acquisition of interferograms in low light levels.
in Applied optics
JURGENSON C
(2014)
ICONN - THE INFRARED COHERENCING NEAREST NEIGHBOR TRACKER
in Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation
Gordon JA
(2011)
Long-exposure filtering of turbulence-degraded wavefronts.
in Applied optics
Buscher D
(2012)
The declination degeneracy in interferometric astrometry
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
BUSCHER D
(2014)
THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF THE MAGDALENA RIDGE OBSERVATORY INTERFEROMETER
in Journal of Astronomical Instrumentation
Berger J
(2012)
Imaging the heart of astrophysical objects with optical long-baseline interferometry
in The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review
Description | Methods for best designing a type of telescope Methods for building the hardware needed for telescopes Methods for getting high quality images from one type of complex telescope |
Exploitation Route | Our results are already informing the designers of similar interferometric telescopes |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Education |
URL | http://www.mro.nmt.edu/about-mro/interferometer-mroi/ |
Description | Used to continue design and deployment of large facility in US Used to guide/train partner research staff in US Provide insights to other researchers in the field |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Education,Other |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | Grant from New Mexico Tech |
Amount | $164,600 (USD) |
Funding ID | RG56365 |
Organisation | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United States |
Start | 02/2012 |
End | 01/2015 |
Description | Grant from New Mexico Tech |
Amount | $256,100 (USD) |
Funding ID | RG60091 |
Organisation | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United States |
Start | 02/2012 |
End | 12/2015 |
Description | Grant from New Mexico Tech |
Amount | $748,200 (USD) |
Funding ID | RG61261 |
Organisation | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United States |
Start | 02/2012 |
End | 12/2015 |
Description | 4MOST Phase A design study |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | Institute of Astronomy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Mechanical design Proposal document preparation |
Collaborator Contribution | Leadership of activity Allocation of funds to my team Optical and software design |
Impact | Phase A design presentation at ESO Elements of the mechanical design work undertaken by our team were integrated into the actual programme: this is continuing but STFC declined to support future UK participation in this mechanical work (as the competing MOONS project was deemed a higher priority). Our successes in the 4MOST design work led to our successful bid to undertake the camera design work for the MOONS spectrograph. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | NMT System Architects 04/2011-03/2012 |
Organisation | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology |
Department | Physics Department |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Overall design and technical leadership of deployment team. Joint authorship of papers Experimental investigations Hosting NMT staff for visits |
Collaborator Contribution | Joint authorship of papers Delivery, installation of hardware Experimental investigations Hosting team staff in New Mexico |
Impact | Academic research Co-authorship of publications Construction of equipment Engineering/technical/scientific leadership Research funding Student/post-doc training of US collaborators |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Alumni talks 2009/2013 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Typically 60 non-scientific & scientific attendees with families. Questions afterwards and meet and greet sessions. Philanthropic funding to teaching institute |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009,2013 |
Description | Physics at Work |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | Keynote/Invited Speaker |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Talks on current astrophysical research to attendees at "Physics at Work" Exhibition. Part of Department's Physics at Work outreach programme. Talks with question and answers afterwards to groups of about 15. Raised profile of Physics at Work |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013 |
Description | Tours of Lords Bridge 04/2011-03/2012 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 10s of persons attended and discussions took place None |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Tours of Observatory |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The astrophysics group provides regular tours of the observatory for schools and other interested groups by appointment. Tours are operated by a senior member of staff and one or more graduate students acting as guides. Impact on visitors explaining our research Impact on schools encouragement to participate in science |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013 |