PIONIER: a 4-telescope visitor instrument at VLTI
PIONIER: a 4-telescope visitor instrument at VLTI
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PIONIER：VLTI 的 4 望远镜访客仪器
DOI：
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发表时间：
2011
期刊：
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通讯作者：
N. Ventura
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
J. L. Bouquin;J. Berger;B. Lazareff;G. Zins;P. Haguenauer;L. Jocou;P. Kern;R. Millan;W. Traub;O. Absil;J. Augereau;M. Benisty;N. Blind;X. Bonfils;P. Bourget;A. Delboulbé;P. Feautrier;M. Germain;P. Gitton;D. Gillier;M. Kiekebusch;J. Kluska;J. Knudstrup;P. Labeye;J. Lizon;J. Monin;Y. Magnard;F. Malbet;D. Maurel;F. Ménard;M. Micallef;L. Michaud;G. Montagnier;S. Morel;T. Moulin;K. Perraut;D. Popovic;P. Rabou;S. Rochat;C. Rojas;F. Roussel;A. Roux;E. Stadler;S. Štefl;E. Tatulli;N. Ventura
PIONIER代表精密集成光学近红外成像实验。它使用集成光学组合器将4个1.8米辅助望远镜或4个超大望远镜干涉仪（ESO，智利）的8米单位望远镜组合在一起。该仪器于2009年12月开始在IPAG集成，并于2010年10月在帕拉纳天文台投入使用。它从2010年11月开始提供科学观测。在本文中，我们详细介绍了仪器的概念，我们描述了标准的操作模式和数据缩减策略。给出了典型的性能，并对如何改进进行了讨论。本文基于IPAG集成期间获得的实验室数据，以及VLTI调试期间收集的天空数据。我们举例说明了先锋对双星deltaSco和HIP11231的成像能力。PIONIER在H波段提供6个可见度和3个独立的闭合相位，无论是在宽带模式下还是在低光谱色散（R=40）下，使用自然光（即非偏振）。在大气中值条件下，用1.8米辅助望远镜观测到的极限星等为Hmag=7。我们证明了闭合阶段的精度为0.5度。根据不同的大气条件，校正后的能见度的精度在3%至15%之间。PIONIER作为VLTI的访客仪器已经安装并成功测试。它允许以前所未有的灵敏度进行高角度分辨率成像研究。2011年3月，4台8米单位望远镜的成功组合表明VLTI已经为4台望远镜的运行做好了准备。
PIONIER stands for Precision Integrated-Optics Near-infrared Imaging ExpeRiment. It combines four 1.8m Auxilliary Telescopes or four 8m Unit Telescopes of the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (ESO, Chile) using an integrated optics combiner. The instrument has been integrated at IPAG starting in December 2009 and commissioned at the Paranal Observatory in October 2010. It provides scientific observations since November 2010. In this paper, we detail the instrumental concept, we describe the standard operational modes and the data reduction strategy. We present the typical performance and discuss how to improve them. This paper is based on laboratory data obtained during the integrations at IPAG, as well as on-sky data gathered during the commissioning at VLTI. We illustrate the imaging capability of PIONIER on the binaries deltaSco and HIP11231. PIONIER provides 6 visibilities and 3 independent closure phases in the H band, either in a broadband mode or with a low spectral dispersion (R=40), using natural light (i.e. unpolarized). The limiting magnitude is Hmag=7 in dispersed mode under median atmospheric conditions (seeing 3ms) with the 1.8m Auxiliary Telescopes. We demonstrate a precision of 0.5deg on the closure phases. The precision on the calibrated visibilities ranges from 3 to 15% depending on the atmospheric conditions. PIONIER has been installed and successfully tested as a visitor instrument for the VLTI. It permits high angular resolution imaging studies at an unprecedented level of sensitivity. The successful combination of the four 8m Unit Telescopes in March 2011 demonstrates that VLTI is ready for 4-telescope operation.