COAST: recent technology and developments

摘要

We present a summary of the activity of the Cambridge Optical Aperture Synthesis Telescope (COAST) team and review progress on the astronomical and technical projects we have been working on in the period 2002-2004. Our current focus has now moved from operating COAST as an astronomical instrument towards its use as a test-bed for strategic technical development for future facility arrays. We have continued to develop a collaboration with the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer, and we summarise the programmes we expect to be working on over the next few years for that ambitious project. In parallel, we are investigating a number of areas for the European Very Large Telescope Interferometer and these are outlined briefly.