We present concept and first experimental lab results for a low-cost near-infrared heterodyne interferometer based on commercial 1.55μm fiber components with relative phase-stabilization between both telescopes. After a demonstration with 14”-telescopes, the concept should be upgradable to larger numbers of mid- or large-class telescopes. Given that the employed fiber phase stabilization scheme should enable the operation of long baselines, we discuss the applicability of this concept for long-baseline, high telescope number systems (scalability of the concept) and mid-infrared wavelengths. This could finally result in contributions to the design of the large infrared Planet Formation Imager which is being proposed currently.

Date Published: 11 August 2016
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 9907, Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V, 99072L (11 August 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2233687

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9907:
Optical and Infrared Interferometry and Imaging V
Fabien Malbet; Michelle J. Creech-Eakman; Peter G. Tuthill, Editor(s)