Recent technical and scientific highlights from the CHARA Array
Abstract
The CHARA Array is a six-telescope optical/IR interferometer managed by the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy of Georgia State University and located at Mount Wilson Observatory in the San Gabriel Mountains overlooking Pasadena, California. The CHARA Array has the longest operational baselines in the world and has been in regular use for scientific observations since 2005. In this paper we give an update of instrumentation improvements, primarily focused on the beam combiner activity. The CHARA Array supports seven beam combiners: CHARA CLASSIC, a two-way high-sensitivity K/H/J band system; CLIMB, a three-way K/H/J open-air combiner; FLUOR, a two-way K-band high-precision system; MIRC, a four/six-way H/K-band imaging system; CHAMP, a six-way K-band fringe tracker; VEGA, a four-way visible light high spectral resolution system; and PAVO, a three-way visible light high sensitivity system. We also present an overview of science results obtained over the last few years, including some recent imaging results. © 2012 SPIE.