Post-processing the VLTI fringe-tracking data: First measurements of stars

Abstract

At the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, the purpose of the fringe-tracker FINITO is to stabilize the optical path differences between the beams, allowing longer integration times on the scientific instruments AMBER and MIDI. Our goal is to demonstrate the potential of FINITO for providing H-band interferometric visibilities, simultaneously and in addition to its normal fringe-tracking role. We use data obtained during the commissioning of the Reflective Memory Network Recorder at the Paranal observatory. This device has permitted the first recording of all relevant real-time data needed for a proper data-reduction. We show that post-processing the FINITO data allows valuable scientific visibilities to be measured. Over the several hours of our engineering experiment, the intrinsic transfer function is stable at the level of 2%. Such stability would lead to robust measurements of science stars even without the observation of a calibration star within a short period of time. We briefly discuss the current limitations and the potential improvements.

References in corpus (6)

• Near-Infrared interferometry of Eta Carinae with high spatial and spectral resolution using the VLTI and the AMBER instrument
• First direct detection of a Keplerian rotating disk around the Be star $\alpha$ Arae using the VLTI/AMBER instrument
• Data reduction methods for single-mode optical interferometry - Application to the VLTI two-telescopes beam combiner VINCI
• J, H, K spectro-interferometry of the Mira variable S Orionis
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• Optimized fringe sensors for the VLTI next generation instruments
• Fringe tracking performance monitoring: FINITO at VLTI
• Identification of red high proper-motion objects in Tycho-2 and 2MASS catalogues using Virtual Observatory tools
• Infrared interferometric imaging of the compact dust disk around the AGB star HR3126 with the bipolar Toby Jug Nebula