Speaker: Nic Scott (Georgia State University (The CHARA Array))

Title: Recent technical and scientific highlights from the CHARA Array

Abstract: The Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) Array is a six-element interferometer at Mount Wilson Observatory with baselines ranging from 34 to 331 m. The Array hosts a number of new or upgraded, six-telescope beam combiners that span the spectrum from the visible R-band to the near-infrared K-band with a range in available spectral resolution. The most recent are the Silmaril beam combiner that is a three-telescope instrument for H- and K-bands that is designed for very high sensitivity on fainter targets and the CHARA Array Integrated Optics Testbed (CHARIOT) that is a platform for characterizing integrated optic combiners. A seventh, mobile telescope is now on-site for use with fiber optics for H-band beam transport. The mobile telescope will extend the baseline range from 20 m to 579 m, creating new opportunities for measurements of stars with large and small angular diameters. Observing time is available to the community through a program funded by NSF. The observing programs are solicited and peer-reviewed by NSF's NOIRLab.
About Dr. Scott:
Nic Scott is the Telescope Systems Scientist at the Georgia State University Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) Array. Nic directs all aspects of control and development of the telescopes, enclosures, and relay optics of the seven CHARA Array telescopes. Nic received dual PhD degrees from Georgia State University and the Observatoire de Paris for his work on a novel fiber optics beam combiner at the Array. Prior to his current appointment at CHARA, Nic was a Lead Research Scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center where he developed speckle interferometry cameras for the WIYN, Gemini-North, and Gemini-South telescopes. Nic is currently leading the integration of the CHARA Array Integrated Optics Testbed (CHARIOT) experiment to provide a flexible station in the beam combining laboratory to characterize novel integrated optics combiners.

Note: Let me know if you want to meet Nic. He will be at AIP until 14.05.

• Date:
  July 13, 2026, 11 a.m. – noon
  
  
• Location:

  AIP; Kirch building, Conference room

  
  
• Contact:
  Kalaga Madhav
  kmadhav@aip.de