Science and Technology Progress at the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer

摘要

This paper presents an overview of recent progress at the Sydney UniversityStellar Interferometer (SUSI). Development of the third-generation PAVO beamcombiner has continued. The MUSCA beam combiner for high-precision differentialastrometry using visible light phase referencing is under active developmentand will be the subject of a separate paper. Because SUSI was one of thepioneering interferometric instruments, some of its original systems are oldand have become difficult to maintain. We are undertaking a campaign ofmodernization of systems: (1) an upgrade of the Optical Path Length CompensatorIR laser metrology counter electronics from a custom system which uses anobsolete single-board computer to a modern one based on an FPGA interfaced to aLinux computer - in addition to improving maintainability, this upgrade shouldallow smoother motion and higher carriage speeds; (2) the replacement of theaged single-board computer local controllers for the siderostats and thelongitudinal dispersion compensator has been completed; (3) the large beamreducing telescope has been replaced with a pair of smaller units with separateaccessible foci. Examples of scientific results are also included.