Solar interferometry: space and ground instrumental prospects

Luc Dame

doi:10.1117/12.177279

9 June 1994 Solar interferometry: space and ground instrumental prospects

Luc Dame

Proceedings Volume 2200, Amplitude and Intensity Spatial Interferometry II; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177279
Event: 1994 Symposium on Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1994, Kailua, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

Recent advances in electronics and fast computer control allow to envisage extremely high spatial resolution observations of the Sun through the use of a compact array of phased telescopes. Several space missions (SUN/SIMURIS, SUN-SV, MUST/SIMURIS) have been proposed in that respect and will be briefly presented. Prospects for use of the space techniques for a solar array on ground are also indicated. Independently from the different mission concepts, solar interferometric imaging presents a unique case in the domain of optical aperture synthesis since the field- of-view is extended (larger than the diffraction spot of a telescope) and because the high resolution structures are evolving very rapidly and are naturally complex (low fringe visibility). These severe constraints drive solar arrays' design towards `compact' configurations (i.e. in which the spatial frequencies plane is filled) and real-time `cophasing' (direct-- hardware--zeroing of phase fluctuations by fine delay lines). They also influence the choice of the focal instrumentation which is optimum when using a subtractive double monochromator tunable over a large spectral range and providing narrow band filtergrams (up to 0.1 angstrom). We review the concepts and design issues of a solar interferometer and present numerical simulations and laboratory experiments of the system required to cophase an array of telescopes on a complex and extended field-of-view. Aperture configurations and image reconstruction are also discussed as well as the specific real-time metrology aspects of a ground array (atmospheric constraints derived from the performances evaluation of the ASSI Program).

Citation Download Citation

Luc Dame "Solar interferometry: space and ground instrumental prospects", Proc. SPIE 2200, Amplitude and Intensity Spatial Interferometry II, (9 June 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.177279

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