Optical Stellar Interferometry

Steve Lipson

Physics Department, Technion

Stellar interferometers use an array of separate telescopes whose output light interferes optically. The resulting interference patterns allow stellar images to be calculated with resolution equivalent to that of a single telescope having diameter equal to the largest distance between individual telescopes in the array. This method is called "aperture synthesis". I will discuss the theory behind the analysis of such telescope imaging and some of the technical problems which arise. Finally, I will show images obtained by some of the interferometric arrays currently operating in UK, USA, Australia and Chile.

Monday, March 1st, 2010,
At 13:30-14:30 in the Seminar Room
Asher Space Research Institute, Technion
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