Post-processing the VLTI fringe-tracking data: First measurements of stars

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that post-processing VLTI fringe-tracking data with FINITO can yield reliable H-band interferometric visibilities, showing a stable transfer function and potential for improved scientific measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a novel post-processing method for FINITO data to extract scientific visibilities, enhancing the utility of existing fringe-tracking data.

Findings

Transfer function stability at 2% over hours

Potential for robust science star measurements without calibration

First successful measurement of scientific visibilities from FINITO data

Abstract

At the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, the purpose of the fringe-tracker FINITO is to stabilize the optical path differences between the beams, allowing longer integration times on the scientific instruments AMBER and MIDI. Our goal is to demonstrate the potential of FINITO for providing H-band interferometric visibilities, simultaneously and in addition to its normal fringe-tracking role. We use data obtained during the commissioning of the Reflective Memory Network Recorder at the Paranal observatory. This device has permitted the first recording of all relevant real-time data needed for a proper data-reduction. We show that post-processing the FINITO data allows valuable scientific visibilities to be measured. Over the several hours of our engineering experiment, the intrinsic transfer function is stable at the level of 2%. Such stability would lead to robust measurements of science stars even without the observation of a calibration star within a short period of time. We briefly discuss the current limitations and the potential improvements.