iau54:introduction

This page provides a list of resources for students and researchers who are new to the field of stellar interferometry. It provides a list of reading material and links to tutorial web pages that teach the basics of interferometry. The current and potential targets of stellar interferometry are discussed in depth in the Annual Reviews papers in the selected reading that follows. For information of a more technical nature and for links to current and future interferometry projects please consult the Links page. For information about radio interferometry please consult the Education page of the National Radio Astronomy Obsevatory.

Selected Reading in Long Baseline Stellar Interferometry

The following reading list provides a good introduction to the principles and practice of optical long-baseline interferometry. The Annual Reviews papers contain an extensive bibliography, and many of the key papers in the field (up until 1997) are contained in the SPIE Milestone volume. Appendix B of Principles of Long Baseline Stellar Interferometry contains a wide range and more up to date list of references covering the existing interferometers.

Astrophysics with optical interferometers

* Optical Interferometry in Astronomy

J. Monnier
Reports on Progress in Physics 66, 789-857 (2003).

* Optical Interferometry

Andreas Quirrenbach
Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 39, 353-401 (2001).

* Long baseline optical and infrared stellar interferometry (paywalled)

M. Shao and M.M. Colavita
Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 30, 457-498 (1992).

Engineering and Technology

* An Introduction to Optical Stellar Interferometry

A. Labeyrie, S. G. Lipson, and P. Nisenson
Cambridge University Press (2006).

* Principles of Long Baseline Stellar Interferometry. P.R. Lawson, editor (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2000). Course notes from the 1999 Michelson Interferometry Summer School. * Selected Papers on Long Baseline Stellar Interferometry P.R. Lawson, editor (SPIE Press: Bellingham WA, 1997). SPIE Milestone volume of papers covering stellar interferometry from 1868 to 1996. =Stellar Interferometry Explained on the Web= * Why use an interferometer? from the NPOI web pages. * An Introduction to Interferometry from the Mount Wilson Observatory. * Introduction to Interferometry, by Tim Bedding, Univ. Sydney. * Astronomical Optical Interferometry described by Bob Tubbs, Cambridge University.

Web Animations Illustrating Interferometry

* Multimedia Resources from the Space Interferometry Mission. * Virtual Radio Interferometer. A Java applet that simulates how radio interferometers work.

Images Illustrating Astronomical Interferometry

* Speckle Image of Capella from COAST File Archive. * First Llight with the VLTI schematic of interferometer and fringes from a star. * Desktop Interferometer * Aluminium Foil Interferometer

Email Discussion Groups

* Forum Haute Resolution Angulaire [old address: Forum] from LAOG. * Optical Long Baseline Interferometry News Forum

Interferometry Summer Schools

* VLTI Summer Schools * 1999 Michelson Interferometry Summer School. * 2000 Michelson Interferometry Summer School, web-based course notes. * 2001 Michelson Interferometry Summer School, web-based course notes. * 2002 Michelson Interferometry Summer School, web-based course notes. * 2002 VLTI Euro Winter School * 2003 Michelson Interferometry Summer School, web-based course notes. * On the Fringe VLTI schools

History of Stellar Interferometry

* Notes on the History of Stellar Interferometry by P. R. Lawson (2000). * Michelson Collection at the US Naval Academy. * Photographs from the Huntington Digital Library. * Les theories de l'optique et l'oeuvre d'Hippolyte Fizeau by E. Picard (1923) from the French Academy of Sciences. * A.A. Michelson links with biographical information. * H. Fizeau photograph and biography. * E. Stephan photograph and his own History of the Observatoire de Marseille (in French). * Foucault 80-cm telescope at the Observatoire de Marseille The following interferometers have ceased operations - the indicated dates are approximately the dates that the interferometers were operational: 20ft (1920-1931), 50ft (1931-1938), Intensity Interferometer (1964-1976), I2T (1974-1987), Mark I (1979), Mark II (1982-1984), 11.4m prototype (1985-1988), SOIR D'ETE (1979-1993), IRMA (1990-1992), Mark III (1986-1993), I2T/CHARON (1993-1996), and MIRA-I (1998-1999). A Timeline of Stellar Interferometry shows the development of these interferometers from 1955 up until January 2000.

If you see errors or oversights on this page, please contact me. Suggestions for changes are always welcome.

Selected Reading in Long Baseline Stellar Interferometry

Popular science articles

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000;">Astrophysics with optical interferometers</span>

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000;">Engineering and Technology</span>

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000;">Web Animations Illustrating Interferometry</span>

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000;">Images Illustrating Astronomical Interferometry</span>

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000;">Email Discussion Groups</span>

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000;">Interferometry Summer Schools</span>

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000;">History of Stellar Interferometry</span>