Preparing MIDI for science operations on Paranal Markus Schöller Jean-Gabriel Cuby, Sebastien Morel, Andrea Richichi Schloss Ringberg, September 03, 2003

VLTI All UT Coude trainsAll UT Coude trains UT1 tip/tilt (STRAP)UT1 tip/tilt (STRAP) UT2 and UT3 full AO (MACAO)UT2 and UT3 full AO (MACAO) Transfer OpticsTransfer Optics 3 Delay Lines3 Delay Lines VINCIVINCI MIDIMIDI Four staff astronomers, three fellows, several TIOs in ChileFour staff astronomers, three fellows, several TIOs in Chile SID commissioning finishedSID commissioning finished

First Fringes  General User Instruments

Phases Assembly, Integration, Verification (AIV), which ends with First FringesAssembly, Integration, Verification (AIV), which ends with First Fringes Commissioning under the responsibility of the Instrument TeamCommissioning under the responsibility of the Instrument Team “Paranalization” under the responsibility of ESO“Paranalization” under the responsibility of ESO Science Demonstration TimeScience Demonstration Time Open Time with Guaranteed TimeOpen Time with Guaranteed Time

Goals of Paranalization Test the robustness of the instrumentTest the robustness of the instrument Ensure operatibility of the instrument in the science operations groupEnsure operatibility of the instrument in the science operations group Verify instrumental performance and magnitude limitsVerify instrumental performance and magnitude limits

Paranal organigramm

MIDI - runs on the Unit Telescopes first fringes obtained on December 15, 2002 first fringes obtained on December 15, 2002 comm 1 in February 2003 comm 1 in February 2003 comm 2 in May 2003 comm 2 in May 2003 paranalization, GTO/SDT in June 2003 paranalization, GTO/SDT in June 2003 paranalization in August and September 2003 paranalization in August and September 2003 SDT in November 2003 SDT in November 2003 comm 3 in December 2003 comm 3 in December 2003 paranalization and GTO/SDT in January/February 2004 paranalization and GTO/SDT in January/February 2004 science operations will start in P73 (Apr 2004) science operations will start in P73 (Apr 2004)

Identified problems OPD jumpsOPD jumps Tunnel/light duct seeingTunnel/light duct seeing M2 return accuracy when choppingM2 return accuracy when chopping MIDI tracking on ghost (2% vs 40% visibility, ±3.5mm from nominal OPD) on very bright objectsMIDI tracking on ghost (2% vs 40% visibility, ±3.5mm from nominal OPD) on very bright objects

VLTI Data Flow System DFS Hardware VINCI Data Releases VLTI FITS DICD VLT-SPE-ESO NGAST Update Web Archive Interface On-Line VINCI Pipeline MIDI, AMBER Pipeline VINCI QC Logs Automatic Reports MIDI AMBER: Calibration Database QC1 Parameters Visibility Calculator Web Calib. Selection ESOFORM/PHRS VINCI ETC MIDI, AMBER ETCs Scheduling VINCI Templates OBs created with P2PP MIDI, AMBER Templates Extern. Verif. Modules

Call for Proposals - P73 Call for Proposals released on Sep 01, 2003 Call for Proposals released on Sep 01, 2003 Proposal deadline on Oct 01, 2003 Proposal deadline on Oct 01, 2003 Observing April - September 2004 Observing April - September 2004

Call for Proposals - Details UT2/3 and UT1/3 (April-June only)UT2/3 and UT1/3 (April-June only) Use of STRAP (tip/tilt)Use of STRAP (tip/tilt) MIDI in low dispersion mode only (prism)MIDI in low dispersion mode only (prism) Internal fringe tracking onlyInternal fringe tracking only Limiting flux of 5JyLimiting flux of 5Jy Limiting magnitude of V=16 (STRAP guiding)Limiting magnitude of V=16 (STRAP guiding)  V~10% (no overlap compensation)  V~10% (no overlap compensation)

Proposal Preparation I Check objects against MIDI GTO listCheck objects against MIDI GTO list

VLTI open points Final installation of Variable Curvature Mirrors (VCM) in the Delay LinesFinal installation of Variable Curvature Mirrors (VCM) in the Delay Lines Delay Line Metrology upgradeDelay Line Metrology upgrade Close the FINITO loopClose the FINITO loop MACAO installation on UT1/4 and fine tuningMACAO installation on UT1/4 and fine tuning Auxiliary TelescopesAuxiliary Telescopes

Instrument Operations Page

MIDI open points GrismGrism Dispersed fringe trackingDispersed fringe tracking Use of all filtersUse of all filters Integrate-then-read (ITR) modeIntegrate-then-read (ITR) mode External fringe trackingExternal fringe tracking Spatial filtersSpatial filters Acquisition of complex objectsAcquisition of complex objects