Course Notes from the 2002 Michelson Interferometry Summer School

Peter Lawson, Editor (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

The 2002 Michelson Interferometry Summer School was held in the Phillips auditorium at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, from Monday June 24 through Friday June 28.

The Summer School included a series of tutorial lectures describing the theory and techniques of optical/infrared long baseline stellar interferometry, from its fundamental principles through to its astrophysical applications, methods of data analysis, and interpretation. Laptop-based lab sessions illustrated measurements of Altair with the Palomar Testbed Interferometer and synthesis imaging with data from the new 6-way beam combiner of the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer. This school focused almost exclusively on engineering aspects of stellar interferometry and was based on material from the 1999 Summer School: "Principles of Long Baseline Interferometry", edited by Peter Lawson. Paper copies of this book are available free of charge by email to lawsonhuey.jpl.nasa.gov.

The 2002 Summer School was intended for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. There was a limit of 60 participants. No registration fee was charged. Financial assistance for travel and accommodations was available for successful applicants in accordance with U.S. government reimbursement regulations. Accommodations at Lesley University, near Harvard Square (5-minute walk from the school venue), were provided to participants for the duration of the School.

Scientific Organizing Committee

Local Organizing Committee

Important Dates

December 14, 2001: First announcement
February 7, 2002: Second announcement
February 28, 2002: Final announcement
March 8, 2002: Application deadline.
March 15, 2002: Decisions on financial support announced.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION TO LONG BASELINE STELLAR INTERFEROMETRY

• Why Build Stellar Interferometers?
  H.A. McAlister (Georgia State University)
• Theory of Astronomical Interferometry
  C.A. Haniff (University of Cambridge)
• Beam Combination and Fringe Measurement
  W.A. Traub (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)
• Observing Through the Turbulent Atmosphere
  A. Quirrenbach (University of California, San Diego)
• Design of Stellar Interferometers I
  W.J. Tango (University of Sydney)
• Design of Stellar Interferometers II
  T.A. ten Brummelaar (Georgia State University)

MEASUREMENT AND CALIBRATION OF FRINGE PARAMETERS

• Interferometry with Two Telescopes
  R.R. Thompson (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
• The Palomar Testbed Interferometer
  D.R. Ciardi (University of Florida)
• Observing Strategy
  G.T. van Belle (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
• Observing Lab: Target Selection (Lab I)
  M.J. Creech-Eakman (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
• Observing Lab: Data Reduction and Modelling (Lab II)
  G.T. van Belle (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

TECHNIQUES AND LIMITATIONS

• Narrow Angle Astrometry
  B.F.Lane (California Institute of Technology)
• Detectors for Optical/IR Interferometry
  R. Millan-Gabet (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)
• Interferometer Design for Synthesis Imaging
  D. Mozurkewich (Naval Research Laboratory)

OPTICAL SYNTHESIS IMAGING

• Introduction to Closure Phases
  J.D. Monnier (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)
• The Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI)
  D. Mozurkewich (Naval Research Laboratory)
• Observing Strategy
   C.A. Hummel (US Naval Observatory)
• Data Reduction and Interpretation (Labs III and IV)
  C.A. Hummel (US Naval Observatory)

INTERFEROMETRY FROM THE GROUND AND SPACE

• Fiber Optics in Stellar Interferometry
  V. Coude du Foresto (Observatoire de Paris)
• Integrated Optics in Stellar Interferometry
  P. Kern (Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Grenoble)
• Nulling Interferometry
  M.J. Creech-Eakman (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
• Ground vs Space Interferometry
  S.B. Shaklan (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
• Astrometric Interferometry in Space
  M. Shao (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
• Formation Flying Interferometry
  O.P. Lay (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

Links Relating to the 2002 Michelson Summer School:

• Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
• Lesley University
• Optical Infrared Research
• IOTA
• Harvard University
• Campus facilities
.
• Campus Maps
• Directions to CfA
• Boston area subway and bus information
• The Freedom Trail
• Durgin Park
• Provincetown Fast Ferry
• Cape Cod National Seashore

Photographs from the 2002 Summer School:

• Photos by Peter Lawson:
  Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Prep.
• Photos by Gerard van Belle: TBD

• Optical Long Baseline Interferometry Newsletter (OLBIN)
• Links to Long Baseline Stellar Interferometry

• Software notes from the 2001 School
• Research Systems: makers of IDL
• Redhat Linux