Recent and Upcoming Upgrades for MIRC-X and MYSTIC on the CHARA Array

TL;DR

This paper details recent and planned upgrades to the MIRC-X and MYSTIC instruments at the CHARA Array, aiming to enhance sensitivity, calibration, and observational capabilities for near-infrared interferometry.

Contribution

It introduces new hardware and software upgrades, including a motorized filter wheel, high spectral resolution modes, and a 6T ABCD mode, advancing the instruments' performance and scientific potential.

Findings

MYSTIC's ABCD mode has been successfully used on over 20 T Tauri stars.

Upgrades are expected to improve sensitivity by 0.4 mag in J+H and 1 mag in K bands.

New software developments will enhance data reduction and calibration routines.

Abstract

MIRC-X and MYSTIC are six-telescope near-infrared beam (1.08-2.38 ${\mu}$m) combiners at the CHARA Array on Mt Wilson CA, USA. Ever since the commissioning of MIRC-X (J and H bands) in 2018 and MYSTIC (K bands) in 2021, they have been the most popular and over-subscribed instruments at the array. Observers have been able to image stellar objects with sensitivity down to 8.1 mag in H and 7.8 mag in K-band under the very best conditions. In 2022 MYSTIC was upgraded with a new ABCD mode using the VLTI/GRAVITY 4-beam integrated optics chip, with the goal of improving the sensitivity and calibration. The ABCD mode has been used to observe more than 20 T Tauri stars; however, the data pipeline is still being developed. Alongside software upgrades, we detail planned upgrades to both instruments in this paper. The main upgrades are: 1) Adding a motorized filter wheel to MIRC-X along with new high spectral resolution modes 2) Updating MIRC-X optics to allow for simultaneous 6T J+H observations 3) Removing the warm window between the spectrograph and the warm optics in MYSTIC 4) Adding a 6T ABCD mode to MIRC-X in collaboration with CHARA/SPICA 5) Updating the MIRC-X CRED-ONE camera funded by Prof. Kraus from U. Exeter 6) Carrying out science verification of the MIRC-X polarization mode 7) Developing new software for ABCD-mode data reduction and more efficient calibration routines. We expect these upgrades to not only improve the observing experience, but also increase the sensitivity by 0.4 mag in J+H-bands, and 1 mag in K-band.