English

In-Lab High Resolution Mid-infrared Up-conversion Stellar Interferometer Based on Synthetic Long Base-Line

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics 2024-09-16 v1 Applied Physics Optics

Abstract

Detecting mid-infrared (MIR) radiation has significant astronomical applications, although limited by unsatisfactory MIR detectors. Here we reported on the realization of a MIR up-conversion interferometer based on synthetic long base-line (SLBL) in the laboratory. The experimental system consisted of an interferometer and subsequent up-conversion detection part of mid-infrared signal, which streamlined the structure and enhanced the reliability of the system. By using a tungsten filament lamp as an imitated star, we not only achieved the single target angle resolution of 1.10 times 10^(-4) rad, but also obtained the field angle resolution of 3.0 times 10^(-4) rad of double star targets. The angular resolution is in inverse proportion to the length of baseline. The maximum length of simulated baseline in the laboratory is about 3cm. In a Keck Interferometer (KI) liked program, the base line can reach up to 85m leading to a corresponding angular resolution of 3.0 times 10^(-9) rad (about 1.8mas). The study will offer potential benefits in extending the usage of mid-infrared light in astronomical exploration.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2408.14902,
  title  = {In-Lab High Resolution Mid-infrared Up-conversion Stellar Interferometer Based on Synthetic Long Base-Line},
  author = {Zhao-Qi-Zhi Han and Zheng Ge and Wen-Tao Luo and Yi-Fu Cai and Xiao-Hua Wang and Li Chen and Wu-Zhen Li and Zhi-Yuan Zhou and Bao-Sen Shi},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2408.14902},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

11 pages, 4 figures. Accepted by Physics Review D

R2 v1 2026-06-28T18:25:04.996Z