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Astrometry Using Interferometry at Optical Wavelengths

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2016

K. J. Johnston,
D. J. Hutter,
J. A. Benson,
N. M. Elias II,
J. T. Armstrong,
D. Mozurkewich,
T. A. Pauls and
C. A. Hummel
K. J. Johnston
Affiliation:
US Naval Observatory, USA
D. J. Hutter
Affiliation:
US Naval Observatory, USA
J. A. Benson
Affiliation:
US Naval Observatory, USA
N. M. Elias II
Affiliation:
US Naval Observatory, USA
J. T. Armstrong
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, USA
D. Mozurkewich
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, USA
T. A. Pauls
Affiliation:
Naval Research Laboratory, USA
C. A. Hummel
Affiliation:
Universities Space Research Association, USA

Abstract

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Interferometry offers an improvement in the accuracy with which astrometric measurements can be made. Using this technique, radio astronomers together with geodeticists have established a global inertial reference frame that is accurate to 0.1 milliarcseconds. At optical wavelengths, interferometry was first developed by Michelson at the turn of the twentieth century, but due to the complexities of precise beam combination at high speeds, it has lagged in its development. Now, with the availability of lasers, detectors and computers that allow path length compensation on millisecond time scales and distance determination between light collectors with a precision of 0.01 μm, interferometry at optical wavelengths will achieve the results in astrometry comparable to those at radio wavelengths.

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