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A. Merand (NOAO & DESPA), T.A. ten Brummelaar, H.A. McAlister (CHARA), S.T. Ridgway (NOAO & CHARA), J. Sturmann, L. Sturmann, N.H. Turner, W.G. Bagnuolo, M. Hrynevych, M.A. Shure (CHARA)
Commissioning observations at the CHARA Array have been carried out with the two south telescopes, with a telescope separation of 34 meters. Due to the size of the array (>340 meters across) and the optical delay geometry, the beams travel horizontal distances of approximately 200 meters, with a number of reflections in the telescope coude area and the optical delay and beam combination areas. Stellar and laboratory observations have been analyzed to determine the variations of the optical path, as revealed by shifts in the interference pattern. The power spectra of the OPD variations are diagnostic of the atmospheric turbulence characteristics, and of any internal vibrations in the laboratory. Results of the OPD analysis will be compared to similar studies at other interferometric facilities.
The CHARA Array, a six-telescope O/IR interferometric array operated by Georgia State University on Mt. Wilson, Calfornia, was funded by the National Science Foundation, the W.M. Keck Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and Georgia State University.