The MPIA is leading an international consortium of institutes in building an instrument initially called LINC, the LBT INterferometric Camera. Our collaborators include the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF; originally led by the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory in Firenze, now comprising the Astronomical Observatories of Padova, Bologna, and Rome), the MPI for Radioastronomy (Bonn), and the I. Physikalisches Institut of the University of Köln .


LINC will combine the radiation from the two 8.4 m primary mirrors of the LBT in so-called "Fizeau" mode. This configuration preserves phase information, and allows true imagery over a wide field of view. The beam combiner will operate at wavelengths between 1.1 and 2.4 microns, using state-of-the-art detector arrays. When coupled with the advanced adaptive optics system of the LBT, the LINC instrument will deliver the sensitivity of a 12 m telescope and the spatial resolution of a 23 m telescope, over a field 10.5 arcseconds square.

( Click on the image to see the full-size version)

The interferometric camera will be developed in two steps, the first (LINC) incorporating a single, on-axis adaptive optics (AO) system. Ultimately, multi-conjugated AO will allow the exploitation of diffraction-limited performance over a wider field of view. After completion of the second phase, the instrument will be known as NIRVANA, the Near-IR / Visible Adaptive INterferometer for Astronomy.

The image at the top right shows the LINC/NIRVANA interferometric camera (center part) as it will be mounted on the central instrument platform of the LBT. Light from the sky reflects from the two primary mirrors through an intermediate focus then bounces off the adaptive secondary mirrors. Tertiary mirrors directly above the primaries then redirect the radiation into the instrument.