The Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer (FKSI) nulling testbed II: closed-loop path length metrology and control subsystem

B. J. Frey; R. K. Barry; W. C. Danchi; T. T. Hyde; K. Y. Lee; A. J. Martino; M. S. Zuray

doi:10.1117/12.672467

13 June 2006 The Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer (FKSI) nulling testbed II: closed-loop path length metrology and control subsystem

B. J. Frey, R. K. Barry, W. C. Danchi, T. T. Hyde, K. Y. Lee, A. J. Martino, M. S. Zuray

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6265, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter; 62651N (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672467
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

The Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer (FKSI) is a mission concept for an imaging and nulling interferometer in the near to mid-infrared spectral region (3-8 microns), and will be a scientific and technological pathfinder for upcoming missions including TPF-I/DARWIN, SPECS, and SPIRIT. At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, we have constructed a symmetric Mach-Zehnder nulling testbed to demonstrate techniques and algorithms that can be used to establish and maintain the 10⁴ null depth that will be required for such a mission. Among the challenges inherent in such a system is the ability to acquire and track the null fringe to the desired depth for timescales on the order of hours in a laboratory environment. In addition, it is desirable to achieve this stability without using conventional dithering techniques. We describe recent testbed metrology and control system developments necessary to achieve these goals and present our preliminary results.

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B. J. Frey, R. K. Barry, W. C. Danchi, T. T. Hyde, K. Y. Lee, A. J. Martino, and M. S. Zuray "The Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer (FKSI) nulling testbed II: closed-loop path length metrology and control subsystem", Proc. SPIE 6265, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation I: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter, 62651N (13 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672467

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