1. An update on the CHARA array
- Author
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Judit Sturmann, T. ten Brummelaar, Gail Schaefer, Chris Farrington, D. G. Gies, John D. Monnier, Harold A. McAlister, Nils H. Turner, Michael J. Ireland, L. Sturmann, S. T. Ridgway, and N. Scott
- Subjects
Physics ,business.industry ,01 natural sciences ,J band ,CHARA array ,law.invention ,Telescope ,Interferometry ,Optics ,Observatory ,law ,K band ,0103 physical sciences ,Astronomical interferometer ,Angular resolution ,010306 general physics ,business ,010303 astronomy & astrophysics - Abstract
The CHARA Array is a six-telescope optical/IR interferometer operated by the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy of Georgia State University and is located at Mount Wilson Observatory just to the north of Los Angeles California. The CHARA Array has the largest operational baselines in the world and has been in regular use for scientific observations since 2004. In this paper we give an update of instrumentation improvements, primarily focused on the beam combiner activity. The CHARA Array supports seven beam combiners: CHARA CLASSIC, a two-way high sensitivity K/H/J band system; CLIMB, a three-way K/H/J open air combiner, FLUOR, a two-way K band high precision system; MIRC, a four/six-way H/K band imaging system; CHAMP, a six way K band fringe tracker; VEGA, a four way visible light high spectral resolution system; and PAVO, a three-way visible light high sensitivity system. The paper will conclude with a review of science results obtained over the last few years, including our most recent imaging results.
- Published
- 2016
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