Recent progress in wide-field imaging interferometry

The Wide-Field Imaging Interferometry Testbed (WIIT) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and a computational model of the testbed were developed to demonstrate and learn the practical limitations of techniques for wide-field spatial-spectral ("double Fourier") interferometry. WIIT is an automated and remotely operated system, and it is now producing substantial amounts of high-quality data from its state-of-the-art operating environment, Goddard's Advanced Interferometry and Metrology Lab. In this paper, we discuss the characterization and operation of the testbed and present recently acquired data. We also give a short description of the computational model and its applications. Finally, we outline future research directions. A companion paper within this conference discusses the development of new widefield double Fourier data analysis algorithms.

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