Simulations of a long-baseline interferometer with adaptive optics

Abstract

Simulation results of a long-baseline optical interferometer with adaptive optics are presented in this paper. Long-baseline optical interferometers have become useful tools for obtaining detailed stellar information and high-resolution images in the astronomy community. Several interferometric systems have been implemented successfully without adaptive optics; however, adaptive optical systems may be needed for a new generation of long-baseline interferometers with large telescopes such as those being developed for the Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO). A long-baseline optical interferometer in the turbulent atmosphere is modeled first, then an optical interferometer with an adaptive optics system (AOS) is modeled and the resulting fringe patterns for different input turbulence scales are interpreted. Finally, the performance of a long baseline optical interferometer with and without an AOS is carefully evaluated and recommendations are made for the implementation of adaptive optics in the 1.5-meter MRO telescopes.