Adaptive optics for the Magdalena Ridge Observatory

Long-baseline optical interferometers have become useful tools for obtaining detailed stellar information and high-resolution images in the astronomy community. Several interferometric systems have been implemented successfully without adaptive optics; however, adaptive optical systems may be needed for a new generation of long-baseline interferometers with large telescopes such as those being developed for the Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO). This paper introduces the design trade-offs used to investigate the need for adaptive optics for a long-baseline optical interferometer operating in the turbulent atmosphere. Modeling techniques are combined with analytical equations to study the performance of a long-baseline optical interferometer with and without adaptive optics.