Prototyping FOURIER: the first generation near-infrared science beam combiner at the MROI

摘要

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) is currently under construction in New Mexico at an altitude of 3.2 km. When completed it will consist of ten 1.4 m telescopes and will operate at wavelengths from 0.6 to 2.4 μm. Here we present the preliminary design of the Free-space Optical multi-apertUre combineR. for IntERferometry (FOURIER), the first generation near-infrared science beam combiner at the MROI which is currently under development. The combiner will operate in the J, H and K bands and combine three beams from the currently funded subset of three telescopes. The primary aim of the combiner is to achieve high sensitivity leading to its unique design.