Optical concepts for the Binary Star Explorer

Details Optical concepts for the Binary Star Explorer Optical concepts for the Binary Star Explorer

Jan 1987

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987spie..751...72t&link_type=abstract

IN: Reflective optics; Proceedings of the Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 15, 16, 1987 (A88-34536 13-74). Bellingham, WA, Society

Physics

Optics

Binary Stars, Interferometry, Spaceborne Telescopes, Stellar Luminosity, Stellar Spectra, Supergiant Stars, Cool Stars, Gratings (Spectra), Magellanic Clouds, Reflecting Telescopes

Scientific paper

The conceptual design of a proposed first-generation optical interferometer in space, the Binary Star Explorer, is described. The scientific objectives for this interferometer are to determine the fundamental astrophysical quantities of distance and mass for stars in binary systems. In particular, the interferometer will be able to make accurate distance measurements to an estimated 40 Cepheid binary systems in the Galaxy, and 28 supergiant binary systems in the LMC. The interferometer comprises two fixed telescopes on a 5-m baseline, beam-combining optics, and a visible/ultraviolet fringe detecting system. The angular separation of binary systems made up of a cool giant star and hot dwarf companion are determined by measuring the shift between the optical and ultraviolet fringes. In combination with knowledge of the physical size of the orbit (which must be obtained separately from radial velocity measurements on both stars), the distance to the binary is obtained as the ratio of the physical to angular sizes.

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