GRAVITY: Astrometry on the galactic center and beyond
H. Bartko
(1, 2, 3)
,
Guy Perrin
(1, 2, 3, 4)
,
W. Brandner
(5)
,
Christian Straubmeier
(6)
,
Andrea Richichi
(7)
,
S. Gillessen
(1, 2, 3)
,
Thibaut Paumard
(5, 1, 2, 3)
,
Stefan Hippler
(6)
,
Andreas Eckart
(7)
,
Markus Schoeller
(8)
,
Frank Eisenhauer
(1, 2, 3)
,
Xavier Haubois
(1, 2, 3, 4)
,
Rainer Lenzen
(8)
,
Sebastian Rabien
(1, 2, 3)
,
Yann Clénet
(1, 2, 3, 4)
,
José Ricardo Ramos
(8)
,
M. Thiel
(8)
,
Jean-Philippe Berger
(9)
,
H. Baumeister
(8)
,
Stefan Kellner
(8)
,
Frédéric Cassaing
(10, 4)
,
A. Böhm
(8)
,
Reiner Hofmann
(1, 2, 3)
,
Éric Gendron
(1, 2, 3, 4)
,
Ralf Klein
(5)
,
Katie Dodds-Eden
(8)
,
Kamel Houairi
(10, 4, 1, 2, 3)
,
Felix Hormuth
(5)
,
A. Gräter
(1, 2, 3)
,
Pierre Kervella
(1, 2, 3, 4)
,
Vianak Naranjo
(5)
,
Reinhard Genzel
(1, 2, 3)
,
Pierre Fédou
(1, 2, 3, 4)
,
Thomas Henning
(5)
,
N. Hamaus
(8)
,
L. Jocou
(9)
,
Udo Neumann
(5)
,
Marcus Haug
(8)
,
Sylvestre Lacour
(9, 1, 2, 3)
,
Werner Laun
(5)
,
J. Kolmeder
(8)
,
Fabien Malbet
(9)
,
Ralf-Rainer Rohloff
(5)
,
Oliver Pfuhl
(8)
,
Karine Perraut
(9)
,
J. Ziegleder
(1, 2, 3)
,
Daniel Rouan
(1, 2, 3, 4)
,
Gérard Rousset
(1, 2, 3, 4)
,
A. Amorim
(11)
,
J. Lima
(11)
1
LESIA -
Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
2 Pôle Astronomie du LESIA
3 Ingénieurs, Techniciens et Administratifs
4 GIS PHASE - Groupement d'Intérêt Scientifique du Partenariat Haute résolution Angulaire Sol-Espace
5 MPIA - Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie
6 Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln
7 ESO - European Southern Observatory
8 MPE - Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestriche Physik
9 LAOG - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
10 ONERA
11 ULISBOA - Universidade de Lisboa = University of Lisbon = Université de Lisbonne
2 Pôle Astronomie du LESIA
3 Ingénieurs, Techniciens et Administratifs
4 GIS PHASE - Groupement d'Intérêt Scientifique du Partenariat Haute résolution Angulaire Sol-Espace
5 MPIA - Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie
6 Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln
7 ESO - European Southern Observatory
8 MPE - Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestriche Physik
9 LAOG - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
10 ONERA
11 ULISBOA - Universidade de Lisboa = University of Lisbon = Université de Lisbonne
Andreas Eckart
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 759889
- ORCID : 0000-0001-6049-3132
L. Jocou
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 1337469
- ORCID : 0000-0001-9376-1818
Sylvestre Lacour
- Fonction : Auteur
- PersonId : 739267
- IdHAL : sylvestre-lacour
- ORCID : 0000-0002-6948-0263
- IdRef : 129379085
Résumé
We present the second-generation VLTI instrument GRAVITY, which currently is in the preliminary design phase. GRAVITY is specifically designed to observe highly relativistic motions of matter close to the event horizon of Sgr A*, the massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. We have identified the key design features needed to achieve this goal and present the resulting instrument concept. It includes an integrated optics, four-telescope, dual feed beam combiner operated in a cryogenic vessel, near-infrared wavefront sensing adaptive optics, fringe tracking on secondary sources within the field of view of the VLTI and a novel metrology concept. Simulations show that the planned design matches the scientific needs; in particular that 10 muas astrometry is feasible for a source with a magnitude of mK = 15 like Sgr A*, given the availability of suitable phase reference sources.