@inproceedings{d483d079b89e4baab537cde2f4ddda26,
title = "Sparse aperture masking (SAM) at NAOS/CONICA on the VLT",
abstract = "The new operational mode of aperture masking interferometry has been added to the CONICA camera which lies downstream of the Adaptive Optics (AO) corrected focus provided by NAOS on the VLT-UT4 telescope. Masking has been shown to deliver superior PSF calibration, rejection of atmospheric noise and robust recovery of phase information through the use of closure phases. Over the resolution range from about half to several resolution elements, masking interferometry is presently unsurpassed in delivering high fidelity imaging and direct detection of faint companions. Here we present results from commissioning data using this powerful new operational mode, and discuss the utility for masking in a variety of scientific contexts. Of particular interest is the combination of the CONICA polarimetry capabilities together with SAM mode operation, which has revealed structures never seen before in the immediate circumstellar environments of dusty evolved stars.",
keywords = "Adaptive Optics, Aperture Masking, High Contrast Companions, Optical Interfereometric Polarimetry, Optical Interferometry",
author = "Peter Tuthill and Sylvestre Lacour and Paola Amico and Michael Ireland and Barnaby Norris and Paul Stewart and Tom Evans and Adam Kraus and Christopher Lidman and Emanuela Pompei and Nicholas Kornweibel",
year = "2010",
doi = "10.1117/12.856806",
language = "English",
isbn = "9780819482259",
series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",
number = "PART 1",
booktitle = "Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III",
edition = "PART 1",
note = "Ground-Based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy III ; Conference date: 27-06-2010 Through 02-07-2010",
}