We propose a new instrumental concept for long-baseline optical single-modeinterferometry using integrated optics which were developed fortelecommunication. Visible and infrared multi-aperture interferometry requiresmany optical functions (spatial filtering, beam combination, photometriccalibration, polarization control) to detect astronomical signals at very highangular resolution. Since the 80's, integrated optics on planar substrate havebecome available for telecommunication applications with multiple opticalfunctions like power dividing, coupling, multiplexing, etc. We present theconcept of an optical / infrared interferometric instrument based on this newtechnology. The main advantage is to provide an interferometric combinationunit on a single optical chip. Integrated optics are compact, providestability, low sensitivity to external constrains like temperature, pressure ormechanical stresses, no optical alignment except for coupling, simplicity andintrinsic polarization control. The integrated optics devices are inexpensivecompared to devices that have the same functionalities in bulk optics. We thinkintegrated optics will fundamentally change single-mode interferometry.Integrated optics devices are in particular well-suited for interferometriccombination of numerous beams to achieve aperture synthesis imaging or forspace-based interferometers where stability and a minimum of optical alignmentsare wished.
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