Collaborative Research: A 3-5um Fizeau Imager for the Large Binocular Telescope

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This project is to develop and install a 3-5micron imaging system in the 10microns Nulling Infrared Camera now under construction at the University of Arizona for operation at the coherent focus of the Large Binocular Telescope. Having two 8.4-meter mirrors separated by a 14.4-meter baseline on a single steerable platform enables Fizeau (direct imaging) interferometry with 30 milliarcseconds full width at half maximum at 4microns over a field of view limited only by the isoplanatic angle. The Large Binocular Telescope permits unprecedented angular resolution and that combined with the system's high infrared sensitivivity, 20 and 17.5 mag at L-prime and M band respectively, will permit a broad range of astronomical applications and potential groundbreaking science. These include being able to detect warm Jupiters in nearby (d50parsecs) young (t1Gigagyears) systems, investigate local and distant star formation regions, and also study ultra-luminous infrared galaxies at larger redshift.