Integrated Optics in Astronomical Interferometry

Abstract

Integrated optical components (mostly single-mode fibers and couplers) can be used to achieve several functions that are needed in interferometry: coherent beam transportation and recombination, pathlength modulation and control for fringe tracking and double Fourier interferometry, spatial filtering of the wavefront and interferogram calibration. Their potential is assessed and the main problems encountered in their implementation are discussed: dispersion, polarization behavior, and especially starlight injection.