Nulling at the Keck interferometer

M. Mark Colavita; Gene Serabyn; Peter L. Wizinowich; Rachel L. Akeson

doi:10.1117/12.672651

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23 June 2006 Nulling at the Keck interferometer

M. Mark Colavita, Gene Serabyn, Peter L. Wizinowich, Rachel L. Akeson

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Proceedings Volume 6268, Advances in Stellar Interferometry; 626803 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672651
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2006, Orlando, Florida , United States

Abstract

The nulling mode of the Keck Interferometer is being commissioned at the Mauna Kea summit. The nuller combines the two Keck telescope apertures in a split-pupil mode to cancel the on-axis starlight and coherently detect the residual signal. The nuller, working at 10 um, is tightly integrated with the other interferometer subsystems including the fringe and angle trackers, the delay lines and laser metrology, and the real-time control system. Since first 10 um light in August 2004, the system integration is proceeding with increasing functionality and performance, leading to demonstration of a 100:1 on-sky null in 2005. That level of performance has now been extended to observations with longer coherent integration times. An overview of the overall system is presented, with emphasis on the observing sequence, phasing system, and differences with respect to the V² system, along with a presentation of some recent engineering data.

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M. Mark Colavita, Gene Serabyn, Peter L. Wizinowich, and Rachel L. Akeson "Nulling at the Keck interferometer", Proc. SPIE 6268, Advances in Stellar Interferometry, 626803 (23 June 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.672651

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