An update on the CHARA array

The CHARA Array is a six telescope optical/IR interferometer run by the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy of Georgia State University (GSU) and is located at Mount Wilson Observatory just to the north of Los Angeles, California. The CHARA Array has the largest operational baselines in the world and has been in regular use for scientific observations since 2004. In this paper we give an update of instrumentation improvements, primarily focused on the beam combiner activity. The CHARA Array supports seven beam combiners: CHARA CLASSIC, a two way high sensitivity K/H band system; CLIMB, an upgrade to CLASSIC that includes closure phase measurements; FLUOR, a two way K band high precision system; MIRC, a six way H/K band imaging system; CHAMP, a six way K band fringe tracker; VEGA, a 4 way visible light high spectral resolution system; and PAVO, a 3 way visible light high sensitivity system. The paper will conclude with a brief review of some science results obtained over the last few years.

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