MATISSE, the VLTI mid-infrared imaging spectro-interferometer
Abstract
Context:Optical interferometry is at a key development stage. ESO's VLTI has established a stable, robust infrastructure for long-baseline interferometry for general astronomical observers. The present second-generation instruments offer a wide wavelength coverage and improved performance. Their sensitivity and measurement accuracy lead to data and images of high reliability. Aims:We have developed MATISSE, the Multi AperTure mid-Infrared SpectroScopic Experiment, to access high resolution imaging in a wide spectral domain and explore topics such: stellar activity and mass loss; planet formation and evolution in the gas and dust disks around young stars; accretion processes around super massive black holes in AGN. Methods:The instrument is a spectro-interferometric imager covering three atmospheric bands (L,M,N) from 2.8 to 13.0 mu, combining four optical beams from the VLTI's telscopes. Its concept, related observing procedure, data reduction and calibration approach are the product of 30 years of instrumental research. The instrument utilizes a multi-axial beam combination that delivers spectrally dispersed fringes. The signal provides the following quantities at several spectral resolutions: photometric flux, coherent fluxes, visibilities, closure phases, wavelength differential visibilities and phases, and aperture-synthesis imaging. Results:We provide an overview of the physical principle of the instrument and its functionalities, the characteristics of the delivered signal, a description of the observing modes and of their performance limits. An ensemble of data and reconstructed images are illustrating the first acquired key observations. Conclusion:The instrument has been in operation at Cerro Paranal, ESO, Chile since 2018, and has been open for science use by the international community since April 2019. The first scientific results are being published now.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2110.15556,
title = {MATISSE, the VLTI mid-infrared imaging spectro-interferometer},
author = {B. Lopez and S. Lagarde and R. G. Petrov and W. Jaffe and P. Antonelli and F. Allouche and P. Berio and A. Matter and A. Meilland and F. Millour and S. Robbe-Dubois and Th. Henning and G. Weigelt and A. Glindemann and T. Agocs and Ch. Bailet and U. Beckmann and F. Bettonvil and R. van Boekel and P. Bourget and Y. Bresson and P. Bristow and P. Cruzalèbes and E. Eldswijk and Y. Fanteï Caujolle and J. C. González Herrera and U. Graser and P. Guajardo and M. Heininger and K. -H. Hofmann and G. Kroes and W. Laun and M. Lehmitz and C. Leinert and K. Meisenheimer and S. Morel and U. Neumann and C. Paladini and I. Percheron and M. Riquelme and M. Schoeller and Ph. Stee and L. Venema and J. Woillez and G. Zins and P. Ábrahám and S. Abadie and R. Abuter and M. Accardo and T. Adler and J. Alonso and J. -C. Augereau and A. Böhm and G. Bazin and J. Beltran and A. Bensberg and W. Boland and R. Brast and L. Burtscher and R. Castillo and A. Chelli and C. Cid and J. -M. Clausse and C. Connot and R. D. Conzelmann and W. -C. Danchi and M. Delbo and J. Drevon and C. Dominik and A. van Duin and M. Ebert and F. Eisenhauer and S. Flament and R. Frahm and V. Gámez Rosas and A. Gabasch and A. Gallenne and E. Garces and P. Girard and A. Glazenborg and F. Y. J. Gonté and F. Guitton and M. de Haan and H. Hanenburg and X. Haubois and V. Hocdé and M. Hogerheijde and R. ter Horst and J. Hron and C. A. Hummel and N. Hubin and R. Huerta and J. Idserda and J. W. Isbell and D. Ives and G. Jakob and A. Jaskó and L. Jochum and L. Klarmann and R. Klein and J. Kragt and S. Kuindersma and E. Kokoulina and L. Labadie and S. Lacour and J. Leftley and R. Le Poole and J. -L. Lizon and M. Lopez and A. Mérand and A. Marcotto and N. Mauclert and T. Maurer and L. H. Mehrgan and J. Meisner and K. Meixner and M. Mellein and J. L. Menut and L. Mohr and L. Mosoni and R. Navarro and E. Nussbaum and L. Pallanca and E. Pantin and L. Pasquini and T. Phan Duc and J. -U. Pott and E. Pozna and A. Richichi and A. Ridinger and F. Rigal and Th. Rivinius and R. Roelfsema and R. -R. Rohloff and S. Rousseau and D. Salabert and D. Schertl and N. Schuhler and M. Schuil and K. Shabun and A. Soulain and C. Stephan and P. Toledo and K. Tristram and N. Tromp and F. Vakili and J. Varga and J. Vinther and L. B. F. M. Waters and M. Wittkowski and S. Wolf and F. Wrhel and G. Yoffe},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2110.15556},
year = {2022}
}
Comments
24 pages, 26 figures, submitted to Astronomy & Astrophysics