Optical aperture synthesis with electronically connected telescopes.
(2015) In Nature Communications 6.- Abstract
- Highest resolution imaging in astronomy is achieved by interferometry, connecting telescopes over increasingly longer distances and at successively shorter wavelengths. Here, we present the first diffraction-limited images in visual light, produced by an array of independent optical telescopes, connected electronically only, with no optical links between them. With an array of small telescopes, second-order optical coherence of the sources is measured through intensity interferometry over 180 baselines between pairs of telescopes, and two-dimensional images reconstructed. The technique aims at diffraction-limited optical aperture synthesis over kilometre-long baselines to reach resolutions showing details on stellar surfaces and perhaps... (More)
- Highest resolution imaging in astronomy is achieved by interferometry, connecting telescopes over increasingly longer distances and at successively shorter wavelengths. Here, we present the first diffraction-limited images in visual light, produced by an array of independent optical telescopes, connected electronically only, with no optical links between them. With an array of small telescopes, second-order optical coherence of the sources is measured through intensity interferometry over 180 baselines between pairs of telescopes, and two-dimensional images reconstructed. The technique aims at diffraction-limited optical aperture synthesis over kilometre-long baselines to reach resolutions showing details on stellar surfaces and perhaps even the silhouettes of transiting exoplanets. Intensity interferometry circumvents problems of atmospheric turbulence that constrain ordinary interferometry. Since the electronic signal can be copied, many baselines can be built up between dispersed telescopes, and over long distances. Using arrays of air Cherenkov telescopes, this should enable the optical equivalent of interferometric arrays currently operating at radio wavelengths. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/5341674
- author
- Dravins, Dainis LU ; Lagadec, Tiphaine and Nuñez, Paul D
- organization
- publishing date
- 2015
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Nature Communications
- volume
- 6
- article number
- 6852
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:25880705
- wos:000353703400019
- scopus:84928027331
- pmid:25880705
- ISSN
- 2041-1723
- DOI
- 10.1038/ncomms7852
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3f52c867-bd8a-46fe-b4cb-fbcf27b45d87 (old id 5341674)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 13:40:29
- date last changed
- 2024-04-10 08:42:46
@article{3f52c867-bd8a-46fe-b4cb-fbcf27b45d87, abstract = {{Highest resolution imaging in astronomy is achieved by interferometry, connecting telescopes over increasingly longer distances and at successively shorter wavelengths. Here, we present the first diffraction-limited images in visual light, produced by an array of independent optical telescopes, connected electronically only, with no optical links between them. With an array of small telescopes, second-order optical coherence of the sources is measured through intensity interferometry over 180 baselines between pairs of telescopes, and two-dimensional images reconstructed. The technique aims at diffraction-limited optical aperture synthesis over kilometre-long baselines to reach resolutions showing details on stellar surfaces and perhaps even the silhouettes of transiting exoplanets. Intensity interferometry circumvents problems of atmospheric turbulence that constrain ordinary interferometry. Since the electronic signal can be copied, many baselines can be built up between dispersed telescopes, and over long distances. Using arrays of air Cherenkov telescopes, this should enable the optical equivalent of interferometric arrays currently operating at radio wavelengths.}}, author = {{Dravins, Dainis and Lagadec, Tiphaine and Nuñez, Paul D}}, issn = {{2041-1723}}, language = {{eng}}, publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}}, series = {{Nature Communications}}, title = {{Optical aperture synthesis with electronically connected telescopes.}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7852}}, doi = {{10.1038/ncomms7852}}, volume = {{6}}, year = {{2015}}, }