The UMass-SAO NICMOS camera was built for fringe detection and star tracking at the Infrared-Optical Telescope Array. The instrument was constructed by my graduate student Rafael Millan-Gabet, under the guidance of Wes Traub of the SAO and with the help of many colleagues and engineers at UMass/FCRAO and the SAO.
Initial Tests were carried out in March 1997. The system successfully obtained fringes on a K magnitude 5.1 star. The first science run is in October 1997.
| | My student Rafael Millan-Gabet poses with his instrument. |
| | A view of the inside of the instrument. |
| | Fringes on a star with K magnitude of 5.1. |
| | A picture of the telescope shelter, open for observing (Taken in 1993). |
| | Picture of one of the IOTA telescopes (taken in 1993). |
| | A picture taken within the IOTA vaccuum delay line. That's Nat Carelton at the end of the pipe. (Taken approx. 1991). |
| | Inside the IOTA control room ... which is also the beam combining room. |
| IOTA Instrument operating with two telescopes (c. 1996). |
| IOTA with third telescope shelter in place ... late 1998. |